Research & development spending as a share of GDP in New Zealand
New Zealand: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 1.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in New Zealand, 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
The most recent figure for research & development spending as a share of gdp in New Zealand is 1.5%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 34.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in New Zealand peaked at 1.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1999.
New Zealand ranks 27th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 5 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More science & technology data for New Zealand
- Scientific and technical journal articles 8,096 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 6.78 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 130.09 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 130.09 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 6,522 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 93.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 330 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.5% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 4.70 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 38.05 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in New Zealand?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in New Zealand was 1.5% 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 1.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1999.
- How does New Zealand rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- New Zealand ranks 27th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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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CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.