Australia: Research and development expenditure

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Australia

Research and development expenditure, percent of GDP

 Latest value 1.83
 Year 2019
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1996 - 2019
 Average 1.95
 Min - Max 1.51 - 2.40
 Source The United Nations
The latest value from 2019 is 1.83 percent, a decline from 1.88 percent in 2017. In comparison, the world average is 1.11 percent, based on data from 92 countries. Historically, the average for Australia from 1996 to 2019 is 1.95 percent. The minimum value, 1.51 percent, was reached in 1998 while the maximum of 2.4 percent was recorded in 2008. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Recent data
Australia - Research and development expenditure - Recent values chart

Historical series
Australia - Research and development expenditure - historical chart - 1996-2019




The expenditure for R&D on the charts includes both private and public spending on research and development.
Definition: Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Innovation index 49.71 2023 points
 Research and development expenditure 1.83 2019 percent
 Information technology exports 0.70 2022 percent
 High tech exports 7,759.35 2022 million U.S. dollars
 High tech exports, percent of manufactured exports 25.61 2022 percent
 Patent applications by residents 2,966 2021 patent applications
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