Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Sri Lanka, 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
The most recent figure for research & development spending as a share of gdp in Sri Lanka is 0.1%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 9.6% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Sri Lanka peaked at 0.2% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2014.
Sri Lanka ranks 99th of 116 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 7 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 96 Mali 0.1% compare
- 97 Paraguay 0.1% compare
- 98 Nicaragua 0.1% compare
- 100 Burkina Faso 0.1% compare
- 101 Uzbekistan 0.1% compare
- 102 El Salvador 0.1% compare
More science & technology data for Sri Lanka
- Scientific and technical journal articles 2,322 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 30.62 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 132.55 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 132.55 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 273 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 54.6% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 266 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.1% (2022)
- Number of people using the Internet 10.09 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 8.47 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Sri Lanka?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Sri Lanka was 0.1% 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 1996.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2014.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Sri Lanka ranks 99th out of 116 countries with data for 2022.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.