* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Research and development expenditure, percent of GDP, 2021:

The average for 2021 based on 8 countries was 0.77 percent. The highest value was in the USA: 3.46 percent and the lowest value was in Trinidad and Tobago: 0.05 percent. The indicator is available from 1996 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Measure: percent; Source: The United Nations
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Countries Research and development expenditure, 2021 Global rank Available data
USA 3.46 1 1996 - 2021
Canada 1.7 2 1996 - 2022
Costa Rica 0.28 3 1996 - 2021
Mexico 0.28 4 1996 - 2022
Panama 0.18 5 1996 - 2022
El Salvador 0.16 6 1998 - 2021
Guatemala 0.06 7 2005 - 2021
Tr.&Tobago 0.05 8 1996 - 2021



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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