Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Thailand
Thailand: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Thailand, 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
Thailand recorded 0.9% for research & development spending as a share of gdp in 2023.
That represents a change of down 19.2% on the previous year and up 112.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Thailand peaked at 1.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1997.
That places Thailand 44th out of 116 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.1% | — |
| 1997 | 0.1% | -14.3% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +143.2% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | -13.7% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | +15.4% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | +54.1% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | +22.2% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | +8.7% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | +28.4% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +26.3% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | +28.7% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | +11.2% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | +16.2% |
| 2021 | 1.2% | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 1.2% | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 0.9% | -19.2% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 0.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3%, 3.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 0.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.0%, 93% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Thailand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +143.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.4% | 1.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More science & technology data for Thailand
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 160.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.61 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 115.13 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 236.69 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -4.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -4.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 16,656 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Thailand?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Thailand was 0.9% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 1.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1997.
- How does Thailand rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Thailand ranks 44th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 112.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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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About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.