Greece R&D Spending
Research and development expenditure as % of GDP GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
Greece's r&d spending was 1.75% in 2025, ranked 20th globally. This represents a 17.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1997–2025.
Overview
Greece's r&d spending stood at 1.75% in 2025, a rise of +0.27% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.75% by 2025. Greece ranked 20th globally.
Greece’s research and development intensity has risen steadily over the 24‑year span covered by the World Bank series, moving from a trough of 0.43 % of GDP in 1997 to an all‑time peak of 1.75 % in 2025, placing the country twentieth globally. The upward trajectory reflects a combination of expanded public funding, EU cohesion‑policy grants and a modest increase in private sector R&D, yet the level remains below that of nearby Portugal (2.04 % in 2025) and Czechia (2.05 %). While the growth rate has accelerated since the early 2000s, Greece’s spending still lags behind the European Union average, which hovers around 2.2 %. Structural constraints such as limited venture‑capital markets and a relatively small high‑tech industrial base temper further expansion. Continued alignment with EU research frameworks and incentives for private‑sector innovation could sustain the current upward trend and potentially lift Greece into the top‑15 group of R&D spenders in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | R&D Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 1.75% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.75% | +0.27% | #20 |
| 2022 | 1.49% | +0.03% | #22 |
| 2021 | 1.46% | −0.05% | #28 |
| 2020 | 1.51% | +0.24% | #25 |
| 2019 | 1.27% | +0.06% | #33 |
| 2018 | 1.21% | +0.06% | #29 |
| 2017 | 1.15% | +0.15% | #33 |
| 2016 | 1.01% | +0.04% | #33 |
| 2015 | 0.97% | +0.13% | #39 |
| 2014 | 0.84% | +0.03% | #36 |
| 2013 | 0.81% | +0.10% | #36 |
| 2012 | 0.71% | +0.03% | #43 |
| 2011 | 0.68% | +0.08% | #43 |
| 2010 | 0.60% | −0.02% | #49 |
| 2009 | 0.63% | −0.04% | #43 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Greece matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1996. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw r&d spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Greece's r&d spending was 1.75% in 2025. Ranked 20th globally. This represents a 17.9% increase from the previous year.
Greece's r&d spending peaked at 1.75% in 2025.
The lowest r&d spending in Greece was 0.43% in 1997.
Greece ranks 20th globally in r&d spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Greece's r&d spending is projected to reach 1.75% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The r&d spending of Greece in 2025 was 1.75%. This ranks 20th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_greece_rd-spending,
title = {Greece R&D Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/greece/rd-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}