Brussels, July 29, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal ranked fifth worst, with €78.7 per person, in the table of government budget allocations for Research and Development (R&D) in 2024, according to data released today by Eurostat.

In 2024, government budget allocations for R&D at European Union (EU) level amounted to €284.70 per person, an increase of 57.0% compared to 2014 (€181.30 per capita).

The EU statistical office recorded the highest allocations among EU countries in Luxembourg (€759.20 per person), followed at some distance by Denmark (€586.80 per person) and the Netherlands (€542.70 per person).

On the other hand, Romania (€19.10 per person), Bulgaria (€38.3 per person) and Hungary (€58.70 per person) recorded the lowest budget allocations for R&D per person, with Portugal in fifth place (€78.70 per capita, corresponding to 0.29% of gross domestic product - GDP).

Eurostat notes that changes in R&D appropriations per capita may reflect changes in the population of countries.

Eurostat estimated total government budget appropriations for R&D in the EU at €127.916 billion, equivalent to 0.71% of the bloc's GDP.

This represents an increase of 3.4% compared to 2023 (€123,675 million) and 59.5% compared to 2014 (€80,175 million).

In terms of total value, Portugal ranks 13th in the EU table, with €837.419 billion, led by Germany (€44,917 billion) and with Malta at the bottom of the table (€41,615 million).

IG/ADB // ADB.

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