Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Netherlands
Netherlands: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 2.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Netherlands, 1996–2023
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 Netherlands is 2.3%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Netherlands peaked at 2.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2008.
That places Netherlands 15th out of 116 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More science & technology data for Netherlands
- Scientific and technical journal articles 32,207 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 23.43 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 128.54 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 128.54 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 1,390 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 97.0% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 2,080 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 2.3% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 6,803 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 16.32 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Netherlands?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Netherlands was 2.3% 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 2.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2008.
- How does Netherlands rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Netherlands ranks 15th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Netherlands 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 — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.