Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.1% in 2015. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Nicaragua, 1997–2015
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 0.1% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2015. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 20.2% on the previous year and up 207.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Nicaragua peaked at 0.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2002.
That places Nicaragua 98th out of 116 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0.1% | — |
| 2002 | 0.0% | -46.3% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +138.9% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | +25.2% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -13.1% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | +20.2% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 0.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.2%, 66% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 0.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.2%, 48% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 95 Kazakhstan 0.2% compare
- 96 Mali 0.1% compare
- 97 Paraguay 0.1% compare
- 99 Sri Lanka 0.1% compare
- 100 Burkina Faso 0.1% compare
- 101 Uzbekistan 0.1% compare
More science & technology data for Nicaragua
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 105.96 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.06 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 7.33 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 60.02 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.1115 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 40.65 (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 Nicaragua?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Nicaragua was 0.1% in 2015, 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2002.
- How does Nicaragua rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Nicaragua ranks 98th out of 116 countries with data for 2015.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 207.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.