Iran, Islamic Republic of R&D Spending
Research and development expenditure as % of GDP GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
Iran, Islamic Republic of's r&d spending was 0.73% in 2021, ranked 46th globally. This represents a 7.8% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 2001–2021.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's r&d spending stood at 0.73% in 2021, a decline of +0.06% from 2019. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 46th globally.
Iran’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) has remained modest, averaging 0.73 percent of GDP in 2021, which placed the country 46th worldwide. Over the 15‑year span from 2001 to 2021 the share rose from 0.50 to 0.73, reaching an all‑time peak of 0.79 percent in 2019 before falling to a trough of 0.24 percent in 2013. The post‑2013 rebound reflects a gradual re‑allocation of public and private resources toward science and technology, yet the level remains below peers such as Latvia (0.75 percent) and Bulgaria (0.77 percent). The limited scale of R&D spending constrains Iran’s capacity to diversify its economy and to compete in high‑value sectors. Continued improvement will likely depend on sustained policy incentives, greater integration with international research networks, and a stable macro‑economic environment that can support higher private‑sector participation in R&D.
Data & projection
| Year | R&D Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0.73% | −0.06% | #46 |
| 2019 | 0.79% | +0.03% | #47 |
| 2017 | 0.76% | +0.37% | #44 |
| 2015 | 0.39% | +0.16% | #65 |
| 2013 | 0.24% | −0.06% | #73 |
| 2012 | 0.29% | +0.03% | #62 |
| 2010 | 0.26% | −0.01% | #70 |
| 2009 | 0.27% | −0.37% | #66 |
| 2008 | 0.65% | +0.09% | #44 |
| 2006 | 0.56% | −0.06% | #45 |
| 2005 | 0.62% | +0.12% | #41 |
| 2004 | 0.50% | −0.09% | #46 |
| 2003 | 0.59% | +0.10% | #42 |
| 2002 | 0.50% | −0.01% | #44 |
| 2001 | 0.50% | – | #45 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. 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
Iran, Islamic Republic of's r&d spending was 0.73% in 2021. Ranked 46th globally. This represents a 7.8% decrease from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's r&d spending peaked at 0.79% in 2019.
The lowest r&d spending in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 0.24% in 2013.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 46th globally in r&d spending as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The r&d spending of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2021 was 0.73%. This ranks 46th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_rd-spending,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of R&D Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/rd-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}