Disaggregations

Choose categories from the dropdowns below to see different breakdowns of the data. Some will not be available until a higher level is chosen.

Headline data

Target name Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
Indicator name Research and development (R&D) expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP)
Global / Proxy indicator Global indicator
Description of indicator This indicator is calculated by the amount of research and development expenditure divided by the total output of the economy, gross domestic product (GDP). Research and experimental development comprise creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.
Gross domestic research and development expenditure is derived from the sum of four sectors. These are; Financial and Non-Financial Corporations, General Government, Higher Education and Private Non-Profit Organizations.
For the financial source of gross domestic research and development expenditure, ""Rest of the World"" are also taken into account in addition to the other four sectors.
Unit %
Available disaggregation Sector, Source of finance
Calculation R&D expenditure as a proportion of GDP = (Total R&D expenditure / GDP ) * 100
Comparability Produced in full compliance with global metadata.
General government data includes Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (NPISH) data for 2016 and beyond.
Revision Depending on the revision in the GDP data, this indicator data is also revised.
Other information Distribution of R&D expenditure by sectors and source of funds are presented as % within the group.
Data source Research and Development Activities Survey, 2024
Annual Gross Domestic Product, 2024

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Target name

Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending

Indicator name

Research and development (R&D) expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP)

Designated tier

Tier I

Custodian agency

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Link to the global metadata of this indicator United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Metadata (PDF 382 KB) opens in a new window