Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Switzerland
Switzerland: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 3.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Switzerland, 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
Switzerland recorded 3.2% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2023.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Switzerland peaked at 3.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2000.
Switzerland ranks 8th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More science & technology data for Switzerland
- Scientific and technical journal articles 22,804 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 11.55 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 129.47 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 129.47 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 267 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 97.3% (2025)
- Patent applications, residents 1,288 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 3.2% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 3,292 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 8.32 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Switzerland?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Switzerland was 3.2% 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2000.
- How does Switzerland rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Switzerland ranks 8th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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 — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.