Togo R&D Spending

Togo’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) remained modest, registering 0.19 percent of GDP in 2014, which placed the country 72nd globally and tied it with peers such as Bermuda and Oman. The indicator shows a narrow upward trajectory from 0.17 percent in 2010 to the all‑time peak of 0.19 percent in 2014, with the lowest point of 0.16 percent recorded in 2012. Over the three‑year coverage period, the incremental rise reflects limited but steady investment in scientific capacity, comparable to Burkina Faso’s 0.20 percent level and slightly above Georgia’s 0.17 percent. The persistence of a sub‑1 percent share underscores structural constraints, including a small private sector R&D base and reliance on external funding. Continued growth will likely depend on policy reforms that incentivise private‑sector research, strengthen university‑industry linkages, and improve the regulatory environment, which could shift the current flat trend toward a more pronounced upward trajectory.