Spain: Research and development expenditure

The latest value from 2023 is 1.49 percent, an increase from 1.41 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 1.28 percent, based on data from 83 countries. Historically, the average for Spain from 1996 to 2023 is 1.16 percent. The minimum value, 0.78 percent, was reached in 1997 while the maximum of 1.49 percent was recorded in 2023. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

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.