Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Romania
Romania: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.5% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Romania, 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
Romania recorded 0.5% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2023.
That represents a change of up 11.6% on the previous year and up 32.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Romania peaked at 0.7% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2000.
Romania ranks 59th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More science & technology data for Romania
- Scientific and technical journal articles 10,713 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 22.78 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 119.81 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 119.81 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 45 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 91.3% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 772 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.5% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 2,784 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 16.09 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Romania?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Romania was 0.5% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7% in 1996.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2000.
- How does Romania rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Romania ranks 59th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Romania 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.