China's research spending rose from 12% to 88% of America's
Gross domestic spending on R&D, billions of current PPP dollars, 2000–2022.
China's R&D spending grew from $32.9 billion in 2000 to $811.9 billion in 2022 (PPP).
In 2022 China spent $812 billion on R&D, against $923 billion in the US.
China spent four times as much as Japan in 2022, and more than Japan, Germany and South Korea combined ($515 billion).
the numbers
| Year | China (bn) | United States (bn) | Japan (bn) | Germany (bn) | South Korea (bn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33 | 269 | 99 | 54 | 19 |
| 2010 | 212 | 409 | 141 | 87 | 52 |
| 2020 | 608 | 730 | 175 | 151 | 112 |
| 2021 | 701 | 822 | 183 | 161 | 123 |
| 2022 | 812 | 923 | 201 | 175 | 139 |
source notes & method
GERD in current PPP dollars, converted by OECD. Shares of the US (12.3% in 2000, 87.9% in 2022) and the Japan+Germany+South Korea sum are derived by progrss. Some 2022 data preliminary. OECD's March 2026 MSTI release says that on 2024 PPPs China's GERD caught up with and slightly passed the US in 2024 (~102%), but on 2020 benchmark PPPs it was about 90–95%; the result depends on the PPP base: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2026/03/oecd-overall-rd-growth-stable-government-rd-budgets-decline-and-reorient-towards-defence.html
Published 3 Nov 2026
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