Australia Research & Development Expenditure (% of GDP) (2021)
Australia's Research & Development Expenditure (% of GDP): 1.9 % of GDP in 2021, +0.1pp vs 2019. World Bank (GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS), 1996–2021.
Australia (2021)
1.9
% of GDP
+0.1pp vs 2019
Change vs. prior observation
+0.1pp
percentage points
Trend
up
Series length
14
years of data
Data
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.9 | +0.1pp |
| 2019 | 1.8 | -0.1pp |
| 2017 | 1.9 | unchanged |
| 2015 | 1.9 | -0.3pp |
| 2013 | 2.2 | unchanged |
| 2011 | 2.2 | -0.2pp |
| 2010 | 2.4 | unchanged |
| 2008 | 2.4 | +0.2pp |
| 2006 | 2.2 | +0.4pp |
| 2004 | 1.8 | +0.1pp |
| 2002 | 1.7 | +0.1pp |
| 2000 | 1.6 | +0.1pp |
| 1998 | 1.5 | -0.2pp |
| 1996 | 1.7 | n/a |
About this Dataset
Australia recorded 1.9 % of GDP in 2021. The latest change was +0.1pp. Across 1996–2021 the series ranges from 1.5 in 1998 to 2.4 in 2008.
This page tracks total R&D expenditure (public + private) as a share of GDP in Australia from 1996 to present. R&D intensity is a leading indicator of innovation capability and future economic productivity.
Data sourced from World Bank via Open Data API. Values use World Bank standardised methodology intended for cross-country comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
This page tracks total R&D expenditure (public + private) as a share of GDP in Australia from 1996 to present. R&D intensity is a leading indicator of innovation capability and future economic productivity. It is published by World Bank and updated annually.
The most recent observation covers 2021. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1996–2021 (14 observations).
The series peaked at 2.4 % of GDP in 2008 and reached its lowest recorded value of 1.5 in 1998. The latest reading of 1.9 in 2021 represents a change of +0.1pp.