China has quadrupled its R&D intensity; France has stood still
Original title: Research & development spending as a share of GDP · Our World in Data · 27 Jul 2026
Chart: Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0
So what
China went from about 0.6% of GDP on R&D in 1996 to 2.6% in 2023, roughly the world average, while France is flat at about 2.2%. Israel at 6% and South Korea at 5% now set the pace, well ahead of the US and Japan at about 3.4%. Europe's 3% Lisbon goal is still missed by most large members, including France and Italy.
| Label | Value | Unit | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| World | 1.9649389 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| World | 1.9988924 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| World | 2.5973783 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Israel | 2.4753 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| Israel | 3.8421 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| Israel | 6.34589 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| South Korea | 2.14233 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| South Korea | 3.17913 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| South Korea | 4.94352 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Sweden | 3.27265 | % of GDP | 1997 |
| Sweden | 3.18756 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| Sweden | 3.59978 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| United States | 2.45013 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| United States | 2.71443 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| United States | 3.44716 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Japan | 2.64303 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| Japan | 3.10495 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| Japan | 3.44125 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Belgium | 1.74299 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| Belgium | 2.0613 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| Belgium | 3.27235 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Germany | 2.13663 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| Germany | 2.67632 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| Germany | 3.1539 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| United Kingdom | 1.5754 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| United Kingdom | 1.63887 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| United Kingdom | 2.67614 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| China | 0.56014 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| China | 1.68456 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| China | 2.57729 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| France | 2.23224 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| France | 2.17771 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| France | 2.17832 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Italy | 0.94421 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| Italy | 1.21296 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| Italy | 1.37935 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| India | 0.63905 | % of GDP | 1996 |
| India | 0.78849 | % of GDP | 2010 |
| India | 0.64558 | % of GDP | 2020 |
| Switzerland | 3.22178 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Spain | 1.49362 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Brazil | 1.1938 | % of GDP | 2023 |
| Russia | 0.93706 | % of GDP | latest (year not stated) |