New Zealand R&D Spending
Research and development expenditure as % of GDP GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
New Zealand's r&d spending was 1.47% in 2021, ranked 27th globally. This represents a 4.1% increase from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1997–2021.
Overview
New Zealand's r&d spending stood at 1.47% in 2021, a rise of +0.06% from 2019. New Zealand ranked 27th globally.
New Zealand’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) rose from 1.06 % of GDP in 1997 to an all‑time peak of 1.47 % in 2021, placing the country 27th globally in that year. The trough of 0.96 % occurred in 1999, after which a steady upward trajectory emerged, with the indicator covering 13 years of data. This performance is comparable to peers such as the United Arab Emirates, which recorded 1.49 % in the same period, and Greece at 1.46 %, underscoring New Zealand’s position among mid‑range R&D spenders. The sustained increase reflects targeted policy incentives and growing private‑sector participation in innovation activities. If the current emphasis on technology adoption and collaborative research continues, the upward trend is likely to persist, potentially moving New Zealand closer to the OECD average and enhancing its competitive standing in knowledge‑intensive industries.
Data & projection
| Year | R&D Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.47% | +0.06% | #27 |
| 2019 | 1.41% | +0.06% | #28 |
| 2017 | 1.35% | +0.12% | #25 |
| 2015 | 1.23% | +0.07% | #31 |
| 2013 | 1.15% | −0.08% | #31 |
| 2011 | 1.23% | −0.02% | #28 |
| 2009 | 1.25% | +0.09% | #27 |
| 2007 | 1.16% | +0.04% | #25 |
| 2005 | 1.12% | −0.03% | #24 |
| 2003 | 1.15% | +0.05% | #22 |
| 2001 | 1.10% | +0.14% | #21 |
| 1999 | 0.96% | −0.09% | #25 |
| 1997 | 1.06% | – | #22 |
Analysis
New Zealand's r&d spending was 1.47% in 2021, a rise of +0.06% from 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's r&d spending was 1.47% in 2021. Ranked 27th globally. This represents a 4.1% increase from the previous year.
New Zealand's r&d spending peaked at 1.47% in 2021.
The lowest r&d spending in New Zealand was 0.96% in 1999.
New Zealand ranks 27th 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 New Zealand in 2021 was 1.47%. This ranks 27th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_rd-spending,
title = {New Zealand R&D Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/rd-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}