Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Portugal
Portugal: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 1.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 1.7%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 28.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Portugal peaked at 1.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1996.
Portugal ranks 24th of 116 countries on this measure, 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 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More science & technology data for Portugal
- Scientific and technical journal articles 18,225 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 12.94 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 124.13 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 124.13 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 42 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 88.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 711 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.7% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 2,730 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 8.55 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Portugal?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Portugal was 1.7% 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 1.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1996.
- How does Portugal rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Portugal ranks 24th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal 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 — 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.