Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Myanmar
Myanmar: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Myanmar, 1997–2023
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Myanmar recorded 0.0% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 34.4% on the previous year and down 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Myanmar peaked at 0.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2023.
Myanmar ranks 114th of 116 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Myanmar, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0.1% | — |
| 1998 | 0.0% | -42.9% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | +28.9% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | +156.6% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -36.8% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +127.0% |
| 2017 | 0.0% | -80.2% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | +82.8% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | +41.8% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | +86.6% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -20.3% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | -71.6% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -34.4% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 0.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.2%, 14% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 0.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.0%, 2% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
- 111 Trinidad and Tobago 0.1% compare
- 112 Iraq 0.0% compare
- 113 United States Virgin Islands 0.0% compare
- 115 Madagascar 0.0% compare
- 116 Guatemala 0.0% compare
More science & technology data for Myanmar
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 114.33 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.14 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 62.31 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 100.38 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -5.54 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -4.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 233.94 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Myanmar?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Myanmar was 0.0% in 2023, 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2023.
- How does Myanmar rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Myanmar ranks 114th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.