R&D spending share of GDP in United Kingdom
Spending on research and development in United Kingdom was equal to 1.73% of GDP in 2019. The value for 2019 is the highest since 1994. The source marks a break in the series within this span, so values before and after it may not be fully comparable.
The latest value for United Kingdom is for 2019. Most countries have figures for 2024.
The latest value carries the source flag “Provisional”.
United Kingdom, 2019
1.73%p (Provisional)
Change from 2018
+0.02percentage points
European Union, 2019
2.21%e (Estimated)
Median of OECD (38 countries), 2019
1.98%
R&D spending share of GDP in United Kingdom over time
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United Kingdom
European Union
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | United Kingdom | European Union |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 2.26%e (estimated) |
| 2023 | – | 2.25%e (estimated) |
| 2022 | – | 2.22%e (estimated) |
| 2021 | – | 2.24%e (estimated) |
| 2020 | – | 2.28%e (estimated) |
| 2019 | 1.73%p (provisional) | 2.21%e (estimated) |
| 2018 | 1.71% | 2.17%e (estimated) |
| 2017 | 1.66% | 2.14% |
| 2016 | 1.65%e (estimated) | 2.10%e (estimated) |
| 2015 | 1.64% | 2.10% |
| 2014 | 1.63%e (estimated) | 2.09%e (estimated) |
| 2013 | 1.61% | 2.08%e (estimated) |
| 2012 | 1.57%e (estimated) | 2.06%e (estimated) |
| 2011 | 1.64%b (break in time series) | 2.00%e (estimated) |
| 2010 | 1.63%e (estimated) | 1.96%e (estimated) |
| 2009 | 1.66%e (estimated) | 1.96%e (estimated) |
| 2008 | 1.60%e (estimated) | 1.87%e (estimated) |
| 2007 | 1.61% | 1.79%e (estimated) |
| 2006 | 1.57% | 1.80%e (estimated) |
| 2005 | 1.55% | 1.78%e (estimated) |
| 2004 | 1.53% | 1.79%e (estimated) |
| 2003 | 1.58% | 1.82%e (estimated) |
| 2002 | 1.61% | 1.83%e (estimated) |
| 2001 | 1.59% | 1.82%e (estimated) |
Flags: e estimated; b break in time series; p provisional . A dash means no value was published.
In short
- That is a change of +0.02 percentage points from 1.71% in 2018.
- Since 2009, when it was 1.66%, the figure has changed by +0.07 percentage points. The source marks a break in the series during this period, so part of the change may come from a change in method.
- The figure for the European Union in 2019 was 2.21%.