R&D expenditure (% of GDP) — all countries

R&D expenditure (% of GDP) — United States

R&D expenditure (% of GDP) in the United States in 2023 — 3.45%. Ranked 5 in the world out of 84. Since 1996, the indicator has risen by 1 pp.

2023 3.45% −0.04 pp vs 2022
World rank 5of 84
Period maximum 3.49%2022
Period minimum 2.45%1996

Trend over time

1996–2023 · % of GDP

R&D expenditure (% of GDP) — United States, 1996–202322.533.519961999200220052008201120142017202020231996: 2.45%1997: 2.48%1998: 2.5%1999: 2.54%2000: 2.62%2001: 2.64%2002: 2.55%2003: 2.55%2004: 2.49%2005: 2.5%2006: 2.55%2007: 2.62%2008: 2.74%2009: 2.79%2010: 2.71%2011: 2.74%2012: 2.67%2013: 2.7%2014: 2.71%2015: 2.77%2016: 2.84%2017: 2.88%2018: 2.99%2019: 3.14%2020: 3.42%2021: 3.47%2022: 3.49%2023: 3.45%
Change over the period: +1 pp Annual average: 0.04 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United States

United States 3.45%
World 2.6%
R&D expenditure (% of GDP) — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 3.45 −0.04 pp
2022 3.49 +0.02 pp
2021 3.47 +0.05 pp
2020 3.42 +0.27 pp
2019 3.14 +0.15 pp
2018 2.99 +0.11 pp
2017 2.88 +0.05 pp
2016 2.84 +0.06 pp
2015 2.77 +0.06 pp
2014 2.71 +0.01 pp
2013 2.7 +0.02 pp
2012 2.67 −0.07 pp
2011 2.74 +0.02 pp
2010 2.71 −0.08 pp
2009 2.79 +0.05 pp
2008 2.74 +0.13 pp
2007 2.62 +0.07 pp
2006 2.55 +0.04 pp
2005 2.5 +0.02 pp
2004 2.49 −0.06 pp
2003 2.55 +0 pp
2002 2.55 −0.09 pp
2001 2.64 +0.02 pp
2000 2.62 +0.08 pp
1999 2.54 +0.05 pp
1998 2.5 +0.02 pp
1997 2.48 +0.03 pp
1996 2.45

Northern America, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

US United States 3.45 CA Canada 1.81

About the indicator

Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) as a percentage of GDP — all current and capital spending by business, government, universities and nonprofit organizations on basic and applied research. The threshold of 3% of GDP is the target adopted in the EU; the leaders (Israel, South Korea) exceed 4.5%.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), license CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.