Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Saudi Arabia, 2003–2024
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Saudi Arabia stood at 0.6%.
The figure is up 28.4% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Saudi Arabia peaked at 0.9% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2005.
Saudi Arabia ranks 55th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0.1% | — |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -14.7% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | -20.4% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 0.0% | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | +8.4% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +49.7% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | +1104.7% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | -39.8% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | -17.3% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | +19.4% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | +28.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 0.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.5%, 43% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 0.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.6%, 99% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +1104.7% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More science & technology data for Saudi Arabia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 159.54 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.53 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 54.18 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 24.41 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 24,595 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0007 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Saudi Arabia?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Saudi Arabia was 0.6% in 2024, 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9% in 2011.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2005.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 55th out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.