Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Mexico
Mexico: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.3% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Mexico, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for research & development spending as a share of gdp in Mexico is 0.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Mexico peaked at 0.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1996.
Mexico ranks 84th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Mexico, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.2% | — |
| 1997 | 0.3% | +10.8% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +8.0% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | +14.7% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | -10.7% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | +9.5% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +11.0% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | -7.4% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +11.5% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -9.3% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | -5.1% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 0.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3%, 88% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 0.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.2%, 1.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More science & technology data for Mexico
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 116.49 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.16 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 152.44 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 74.57 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 18,982 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Mexico?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Mexico was 0.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 0.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1996.
- How does Mexico rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Mexico ranks 84th out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mexico data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Research & development spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.