The proportion of global GDP invested in research and development (R&D) increased from 1.52 per cent in 2000 to 1.68 per cent in 2016. In absolute terms, $2 trillion in 2016, up from $739 billion in 2000.
Wide disparities are found among regions. In Europe and Northern America, 2.21 per cent of GDP was spent on R&D in 2016, compared to 0.42 per cent and 0.83 per cent, respectively, in sub-Saharan Africa and Western Asia.
Recent years have seen a steady shift away from resource-based, lowtech manufacturing activities towards those that are medium-high- to high-tech. In Eastern and South-Eastern Asia and in Europe and Northern America, for example, over 47 per cent of total MVA came from higher-tech sectors in 2016. In contrast, in sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of medium-high- and high-tech MVA in total MVA actually fell between 2000 and 2016.
World Merit on Goal 9
In 2018, 96 per cent of the world’s population lived within reach of a mobile-cellular signal and 90 per cent of people could access the Internet. However, not all are able to take advantage of them due to cost. In fact, just over half of the world’s population is currently using the Internet.
