Australia · Commercialisation
Two states accounted for 62% of Australia's university research spending
New South Wales and Victoria together recorded about A$10.2 billion in higher education research and development expenditure in 2024. The Australian Capital Territory had the highest spending relative to the size of its economy.
Sources checked
- New South Wales5,221 A$ million
- Victoria5,008 A$ million
- Queensland2,618 A$ million
- Western Australia1,222 A$ million
- South Australia1,038 A$ million
- Australian Capital Territory919 A$ million
- Tasmania251 A$ million
- Northern Territory128 A$ million
Natural Earth land outlines and dashed land boundaries.
Select a pin for 2024 spending across its state or territory. The table also shows spending as a share of gross state product.
Two large research systems dominated spending
New South Wales recorded A$5.221 billion and Victoria A$5.008 billion, approximately 62% of the rounded national total of A$16.4 billion when combined. Queensland was third at A$2.618 billion. Source 1
Economic scale changes the ranking
Expenditure equaled 1.55% of gross state product in the Australian Capital Territory, the highest of the eight jurisdictions, compared with 0.79% in Victoria and 0.61% in New South Wales. A small economy can have higher spending intensity alongside a smaller dollar total. Source 1
Spending rose in each jurisdiction
Each jurisdiction's nominal expenditure exceeded its 2022 value. In the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia, however, spending as a share of gross state product fell. The expenditure and intensity columns use different denominators. Source 1
What each point represents
The map uses capital-city aerodrome coordinates to place state and territory labels. The expenditure figures cover research performed across each jurisdiction. They do not identify individual campuses, projects or the distance between research sites. Source 1 Source 2