Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Singapore
Singapore: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 1.8% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Singapore, 1996–2022
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2022, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Singapore stood at 1.8%.
That represents a change of down 6.7% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Singapore peaked at 2.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1996.
That places Singapore 22nd out of 116 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More science & technology data for Singapore
- Scientific and technical journal articles 11,894 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 9.96 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 170.78 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 170.78 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 12,566 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 94.4% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 2,024 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.8% (2022)
- Number of people using the Internet 5.38 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 27.81 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Singapore?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Singapore was 1.8% in 2022, 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1996.
- How does Singapore rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Singapore ranks 22nd out of 116 countries with data for 2022.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Singapore 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.