{"version":1,"asset_type":"statistical_series","data_type":"time_series","slug":"cn-rd-expenditure-gdp","url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/cn-rd-expenditure-gdp","html_url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/cn-rd-expenditure-gdp/","title":"China Research & Development Expenditure (% of GDP) (2023)","description":"China's Research & Development Expenditure (% of GDP): 2.6 % of GDP in 2023, +0.1pp YoY. World Bank (GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS), 1996–2023.","domain":"macro","category":"Economy & Macro","keywords":["Economy & Macro","World Bank","China","2023"],"publisher":"World Bank","frequency":"Annual","geography":"China","temporal_coverage":"1996/2023","unit":"% of GDP","last_updated":"2026-07-25","last_updated_text":"25 July 2026","data_as_of":"2023","variable_measured":"China Research & Development Expenditure (% of GDP)","license":"https://apiardata.com/data-license","is_accessible_for_free":true,"sources":[{"name":"World Bank","url":"https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?locations=CN"}],"meta":[{"label":"Frequency","value":"Annual"},{"label":"Coverage","value":"1996–2023"},{"label":"Observations","value":"28"},{"label":"Geography","value":"China"},{"label":"Last updated","value":"25 July 2026"}],"kpis":[{"label":"China (2023)","value":"2.6","unit":"% of GDP","trend":{"direction":"up","value":"+0.1pp YoY"}},{"label":"YoY Change","value":"+0.1pp","unit":"percentage points"},{"label":"Trend","value":"up","unit":""},{"label":"Series length","value":"28","unit":"years of data"}],"series":[{"key":"value","label":"China Research & Development Expenditure (% of GDP)"}],"observation_count":28,"observations":[{"period":"1996","value":0.56014},{"period":"1997","value":0.63467},{"period":"1998","value":0.64185},{"period":"1999","value":0.74295},{"period":"2000","value":0.88409},{"period":"2001","value":0.92948},{"period":"2002","value":1.04418},{"period":"2003","value":1.10465},{"period":"2004","value":1.19732},{"period":"2005","value":1.29008},{"period":"2006","value":1.34923},{"period":"2007","value":1.35321},{"period":"2008","value":1.4233},{"period":"2009","value":1.6366},{"period":"2010","value":1.68456},{"period":"2011","value":1.75244},{"period":"2012","value":1.88095},{"period":"2013","value":1.96246},{"period":"2014","value":1.98475},{"period":"2015","value":2.01703},{"period":"2016","value":2.0595},{"period":"2017","value":2.07771},{"period":"2018","value":2.10232},{"period":"2019","value":2.20144},{"period":"2020","value":2.35712},{"period":"2021","value":2.38165},{"period":"2022","value":2.4945},{"period":"2023","value":2.57729}],"table":{"columns":[{"key":"year","label":"Year"},{"key":"value","label":"% of GDP"},{"key":"yoyChange","label":"YoY Change"}],"rows":[{"year":"2023","value":"2.6","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2022","value":"2.5","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2021","value":"2.4","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2020","value":"2.4","yoyChange":"+0.2pp"},{"year":"2019","value":"2.2","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2018","value":"2.1","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2017","value":"2.1","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2016","value":"2.1","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2015","value":"2.0","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2014","value":"2.0","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2013","value":"2.0","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2012","value":"1.9","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2011","value":"1.8","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2010","value":"1.7","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2009","value":"1.6","yoyChange":"+0.2pp"},{"year":"2008","value":"1.4","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2007","value":"1.4","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2006","value":"1.3","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2005","value":"1.3","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2004","value":"1.2","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"}]},"qa":[{"question":"What does this indicator measure?","answer":"This page tracks total R&D expenditure (public + private) as a share of GDP in China 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."},{"question":"How current is this data?","answer":"The most recent observation covers 2023. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1996–2023 (28 observations)."},{"question":"What is the long-term trend?","answer":"The series peaked at 2.6 % of GDP in 2023 and reached its lowest recorded value of 0.6 in 1996. The latest reading of 2.6 in 2023 represents a change of +0.1pp."}]}