Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Pakistan
Pakistan: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Pakistan, 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
Pakistan recorded 0.2% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2023.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Pakistan peaked at 0.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2000.
That places Pakistan 94th out of 116 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0.2% | — |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -29.8% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -17.7% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | +30.1% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +30.8% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +103.0% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | +58.9% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -23.2% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -24.2% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -14.1% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -15.2% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -17.6% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | -0.2% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 0.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.2%, 1.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 0.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.6%, 26% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +103.0% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 6 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More science & technology data for Pakistan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 76.85 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.7685 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 193.11 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 245.74 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.4112 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 20,519 (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 Pakistan?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Pakistan was 0.2% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2000.
- How does Pakistan rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Pakistan ranks 94th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.