Panama R&D Spending
Research and development expenditure as % of GDP GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
Panama's r&d spending was 0.17% in 2025, ranked 64th globally. This represents a 10.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Panama's r&d spending stood at 0.17% in 2025, a rise of +0.02% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.17% by 2025. Panama ranked 64th globally.
Panama's research and development (R&D) spending has experienced significant fluctuations over the past two and a half decades. At its peak in 2000, the country's R&D spending reached 0.36 of its GDP, however, this figure declined precipitously to 0.06 in 2013, marking a trough. Since then, Panama has gradually increased its R&D spending, reaching 0.17 of its GDP in 2025, ranking 64th globally. This trend is comparable to that of Peru, another country with a similar R&D spending rank, which has also seen an upward trajectory in recent years. Despite the progress, Panama's R&D spending remains below its peak and significantly lower than that of more developed economies. The country's continued efforts to invest in education and innovation are likely to influence the trajectory of its R&D spending, with a sustained increase in investment potentially pushing the country towards a higher global rank.
Data & projection
| Year | R&D Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.17% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.17% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.17% | +0.02% | #64 |
| 2023 | 0.16% | −0.02% | #22 |
| 2022 | 0.18% | +0.01% | #63 |
| 2021 | 0.18% | −0.06% | #71 |
| 2020 | 0.23% | +0.10% | #68 |
| 2019 | 0.14% | +0.00% | #85 |
| 2018 | 0.13% | −0.00% | #78 |
| 2017 | 0.14% | +0.00% | #81 |
| 2016 | 0.13% | +0.02% | #79 |
| 2015 | 0.11% | −0.02% | #92 |
| 2014 | 0.12% | +0.06% | #79 |
| 2013 | 0.06% | −0.01% | #91 |
| 2012 | 0.08% | −0.10% | #80 |
| 2011 | 0.17% | +0.03% | #72 |
| 2010 | 0.14% | +0.01% | #81 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Panama matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1994. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw r&d spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Panama's r&d spending was 0.17% in 2025. Ranked 64th globally. This represents a 10.5% increase from the previous year.
Panama's r&d spending peaked at 0.36% in 2000.
The lowest r&d spending in Panama was 0.06% in 2013.
Panama ranks 64th globally in r&d spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Panama's r&d spending is projected to reach 0.17% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The r&d spending of Panama in 2025 was 0.17%. This ranks 64th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_panama_rd-spending,
title = {Panama R&D Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/panama/rd-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}