R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA
Comparison of R&D expenditure as percentage of GDP between China and USA
Quick Answer
China's R&D spending was 2.6% of GDP in 2025, versus USA's 3.5%. China's percentage has grown from 0.7% in 1995, while USA has been stable at 3-3.5%. In absolute terms, USA spends $700 billion versus China's $460 billion. China targets 3% by 2030. Comparative data from OECD and National Bureau of Statistics.
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๐ Data Table
14 data points| Year | China | Usa |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.71 | 2.84 |
| 2011 | 1.78 | 2.77 |
| 2012 | 1.91 | 2.71 |
| 2013 | 1.99 | 2.72 |
| 2014 | 2.02 | 2.76 |
| 2015 | 2.06 | 2.79 |
| 2016 | 2.11 | 2.85 |
| 2017 | 2.13 | 2.9 |
| 2018 | 2.19 | 2.93 |
| 2019 | 2.24 | 3.05 |
| 2020 | 2.4 | 3.45 |
| 2021 | 2.44 | 3.51 |
| 2022 | 2.55 | 3.46 |
| 2023 | 2.64 | 3.52 |
๐ Key Insights
โน๏ธ About This Dataset
Comparison of R&D expenditure as percentage of GDP between China and USA
Category: technology
Data Source: World Bank, UNESCO
Update Frequency: yearly
API Access: REST API endpoint
๐ How to Cite This Data
Citation Format:
China Data Portal (2026). R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA. Retrieved from https://chinadata.live/data/rd-expenditure-gdp-comparison/
Primary Source:
World Bank, UNESCO
Last Updated:
2026-04-09T16:19:51.553Z
API Access:
GET https://chinadata.live/api/v2/data/rd-expenditure-gdp-comparison ๐ง How to Use This Data
API Access
curl https://chinadata.live/api/v2/data/rd-expenditure-gdp-comparison Download Data
Access the raw JSON data via our API for integration into your applications.
Citation
When using this data, please cite: China Data Portal (2026). R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA. Retrieved from https://chinadata.live/data/rd-expenditure-gdp-comparison/
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Share on X๐ Key Facts
- โข Dataset: R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA
- โข Data Range: 2010 to 2023 (14 data points)
- โข Category: technology
- โข Source: World Bank, UNESCO
- โข API:
chinadata.live/api/v2/data/rd-expenditure-gdp-comparison
โ Frequently Asked Questions
What is China's R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA in 2023?
China's R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA data for 2023 is available with 14 data points covering 2010 to 2023.
Where can I download R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA data?
You can download R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA data from China Data Portal via our free API at chinadata.live/api/v2/data/rd-expenditure-gdp-comparison. Data is available in JSON and CSV formats.
What is the data range for R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA?
The R&D Expenditure % GDP: China vs USA dataset covers 2010 to 2023, with 14 data points. Data source: World Bank, UNESCO.
Dataset Info
- Category
- technology
- Unit
- Percentage of GDP (%)
- Source
- World Bank, UNESCO
- Time Range
- 2010 - 2023
- Data Points
- 14