Gambia, The R&D Spending
Research and development expenditure as % of GDP GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
Gambia, The's r&d spending was 0.07% in 2018, ranked 88th globally. This represents a 18.2% decrease from 2017. Data from World Bank, covering 2008–2018.
Overview
Gambia, The's r&d spending stood at 0.07% in 2018, a decline of +0.02% from 2011. Gambia, The ranked 88th globally.
Gambia’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) has remained marginal, rising from 0.01 percent of GDP in 2008 to a modest 0.07 percent in 2018, which placed the country at 88th position worldwide. The brief upward trajectory peaked in 2011 at 0.08 percent, a level that matched the 2018 R&D spending of Turkmenistan, while the all‑time trough of 0.01 percent occurred in 2009, underscoring the volatility of investment in knowledge creation over the ten‑year span. Coverage of the series extends over only four years, limiting the ability to discern a sustained pattern, yet the data suggest that Gambia’s R&D intensity has hovered close to the low‑single‑digit threshold typical of many low‑income economies. Compared with peers such as Honduras (0.06 percent) and Trinidad and Tobago (0.08 percent), Gambia lags behind the regional average for small developing states. Strengthening public‑private partnerships and aligning research funding with national development priorities could raise the share of GDP devoted to R&D and alter the current low‑growth trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | R&D Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.07% | −0.02% | #88 |
| 2011 | 0.08% | +0.07% | #82 |
| 2009 | 0.01% | −0.00% | #95 |
| 2008 | 0.01% | – | #97 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Gambia, The matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw r&d spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Gambia, The's r&d spending was 0.07% in 2018. Ranked 88th globally. This represents a 18.2% decrease from the previous year.
Gambia, The's r&d spending peaked at 0.08% in 2011.
The lowest r&d spending in Gambia, The was 0.01% in 2009.
Gambia, The ranks 88th globally in r&d spending as of 2018.
The World Bank indicator code is GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The r&d spending of Gambia, The in 2018 was 0.07%. This ranks 88th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_gambia-the_rd-spending,
title = {Gambia, The R&D Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/gambia-the/rd-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}