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.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.4% | — |
| 2000 | 2.3% | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +15.2% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -0.8% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 3.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.5%, 2.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 3.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.4%, 2.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
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
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 129.47 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.28 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 11.55 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 292.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.5767 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 22,804 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0026 units per person (2023)
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.