Israel tops OECD for R&D spending

Expenditure on R&D was 4.9% of GDP in 2008.

According to the CBS, the percentage of GDP spent on R&D in Israel rose from 2.6% in 1995 to 4.9% in 2008. In 2007, the percentage of GDP spent on R&D in Israel was the highest of any OECD country, and higher than the European Union target for 2010 of 3% of GDP.

In 1992-3, spending on food represented 47% of all spending by the poorest 10% of Israeli households, compared 12% for the richest 10%. In 2008, the proportion for the poorest 10% was 49%, while for the richest 10% the proportion fell to 10%. Surplus income after pending on food was 14.5 times higher in the richest 10% of households than in the poorest 10%.

On the basis of the statistics for 2008, women in Israel live on average 83 years, compared with 73.4 years in 1970. Men live 79.1 years on average, compared with 70.1 years in 1970. Life expectancy in Israel is among the highest in the world.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 30, 2010

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