International comparisons for Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP are available for 2016 (latest data). Table 1 shows Civil GERD (excluding military expenditure) as a percentage of GDP for EU and OECD countries and of GNP and GNI* for Ireland in 2016. Ireland's Civil GERD as a percentage of GDP was 1.18 and as a percentage of GNP and GNI* was 1.46 and 1.84 respectively. This compares to an EU 28 country average of 1.93, an EU 15 country average of 2.06 and an OECD country average of 2.24 as a percentage of GDP. More information can be found in the R&D Budget 2017-2018 at the following link:
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/The-R-D-Budget-2017-2018.html
In particular, Figure 16 on page 31 of the R&D Budget shows Civil GERD as a percentage of GDP for all OECD countries for which data is available. Ireland's Civil GERD as a percentage of GNP and GNI* is included for comparison.
Table 1: Civil GERD by country/region as percentage of GDP and of GNP and GNI* for Ireland, 2016
Country/Region | % |
OECD Countries | 2.24 |
EU (15 countries) | 2.06 |
EU (28 countries) | 1.93 |
Ireland GNI* | 1.84 |
Ireland GNP | 1.46 |
Ireland GDP | 1.18 |