Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Uganda
Uganda: Research & development spending as a share of GDP was 0.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Uganda, 2002–2023
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Uganda stood at 0.4%. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 207.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, research & development spending as a share of gdp in Uganda peaked at 0.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2014.
Uganda ranks 64th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Research & development spending as a share of GDP in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0.4% | — |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -30.3% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | -17.4% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | +39.6% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | +29.3% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -15.9% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -21.7% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | +40.9% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -60.4% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +207.3% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 0.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.2%, 1.9× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 0.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.3%, 1.7× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More science & technology data for Uganda
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 83.17 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.8317 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 41.60 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 185.14 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 12.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 1,424 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is research & development spending as a share of gdp in Uganda?
- Research & development spending as a share of gdp in Uganda was 0.4% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest research & development spending as a share of gdp recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2014.
- How does Uganda rank for research & development spending as a share of gdp?
- Uganda ranks 64th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is research & development spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 207.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uganda 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 — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes basic research, applied research, and experimental development.