R&D expenditure by sector of performance, as a % of GDP (international)
In this data publication we look at R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP for a number of countries. We call this the R&D intensity. We also divide this percentage according to the sectors where the R&D is carried out: companies, higher education and research institutions.
In short
- How much do different sectors spend on R&D? What percentage is this of GDP and what are the differences between a number of countries?
- In most countries, the companies sector spends a higher share of R&D as a percentage of GDP compared to the Netherlands.
- While R&D as a percentage of GDP spent by the higher education sector in the Netherlands is actually higher than in other countries.
| Research institutes | Higher education | Coorporations | |
| KOR | 0,52 | 0,43 | 4,17 |
| SWE | 0,16 | 0,79 | 2,61 |
| US | 0,4 | 0,38 | 2,67 |
| JAP | 0,38 | 0,38 | 2,86 |
| BEL | 0,35 | 0,58 | 2,43 |
| SWI | 0,07 | 0,88 | 2,15 |
| AUT | 0,26 | 0,75 | 2,25 |
| GER | 0,44 | 0,55 | 2,14 |
| FIN | 0,26 | 0,78 | 2,19 |
| DEN | 0,09 | 1,04 | 1,89 |
| UK | 0,2 | 0,62 | 1,93 |
| OECD | 0,3 | 0,43 | 2 |
| CHN | 0,37 | 0,23 | 2,09 |
| NLD | 0,11 | 0,56 | 1,61 |
| FRA | 0,3 | 0,44 | 1,44 |
| EU27 | 0,26 | 0,46 | 1,41 |
| NOR | 0,21 | 0,57 | 1,02 |
| SGP | 0,43 | 0,28 | 1,32 |
| CAN | 0,12 | 0,62 | 1,06 |
| IRE | 0,03 | 0,17 | 1,17 |
| ESP | 0,29 | 0,37 | 0,84 |
| ITA | 0,24 | 0,36 | 0,79 |
An international comparison of the different sectors
There are significant differences in R&D intensity across countries. At 2.28%, the Netherlands is above the EU-27 average (2.13%) but below the OECD average (2.73%), as well as below some countries with which it seeks to compare itself. While the Netherlands' R&D intensity remained relatively stable between 2013 and 2019, it rose in 2020. This was driven not only by additional investment but also by a decline in GDP caused by the COVID-19 crisis—a trend observed in other countries as well. Just as in 2023, Korea, Sweden, and the US recorded the highest R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2024, in that order.
There are also differences in the percentage distribution across the various performing sectors: business, higher education, and research institutions. Regarding the percentage of R&D performed by the business sector, the Netherlands scores low; most countries have a higher share in this sector compared to the Netherlands. Conversely, the Netherlands scores higher than many other countries in terms of the percentage performed by higher education. Regarding public research institutions, the Netherlands has a lower R&D intensity than the EU-27 average.
| development 2013-2024 | |
| KOR | 1,345125258 |
| UK | 1,136029182 |
| BEL | 1,039529964 |
| US | 0,754066429 |
| CHN | 0,727539327 |
| OECD | 0,408552106 |
| GER | 0,348556983 |
| JAP | 0,34104397 |
| SWE | 0,284420864 |
| AUT | 0,280071896 |
| ESP | 0,231363269 |
| SWI | 0,225434507 |
| NOR | 0,157841464 |
| EU27 | 0,152173465 |
| NLD | 0,140470847 |
| SGP | 0,108959989 |
| ITA | 0,095754109 |
| CAN | 0,093754702 |
| DEN | 0,058539652 |
| FRA | -0,053688191 |
| FIN | -0,054618446 |
| IRE | -0,168002917 |
Facts and figures
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+1,35
Percentage point increase R&D intensity Korea (2013-2024)
-
-0,17
Percentage point decrease in R&D intensity Ireland (2013-2024)
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+0,14
Slicht increase in R&D intensity Netherlands (2013-2024)
R&D intensity development
Looking at the 2013–2023 period, Korea (+1.35), the United Kingdom (+1.34), and Belgium (+1.04) recorded the largest increases in R&D intensity (in percentage points). Compared to the previous period, the increase for the United Kingdom (+1.36) slowed slightly, as did the increases for Korea (+1.18) and Belgium (+1.00). Finland (-0.05) and Ireland (-0.17) saw the sharpest declines in R&D intensity (in percentage points); in the previous period, Finland (-0.41) and Denmark (-0.16) had experienced the sharpest declines.
The COVID-19 crisis has influenced these figures. For instance, during the 2013–2019 period, Belgium’s figure rose by +0.84 percentage points and Korea’s by +0.69 percentage points, while Finland’s fell by -0.48 percentage points.
The Netherlands’ R&D intensity is rising slightly, by 0.05 percentage points. Most reference countries are experiencing a more rapid increase in their R&D intensity.