Band 7+: The bar chart below describes the gross domestic spending on research and development in five countries between 2001 and 2011. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The bar chart compares the percentage of GDP on research and development in China, France, Spain, the USA, and the UK from 2001 to 2011.

Overall, the given bar graph highlights significant variations in the gross domestic spending, where the USA recorded the highest proportion of GDP, while Spain experienced the lowest.

In 2001, the USA had the largest consumption of approximately 2.8 %, followed by China and France with around 1% and 2.1%, respectively. Spain and the UK, on the other hand, reported comparatively less, at only 0.9% and 1.6%. By 2005, the spending in the USA decreased to nearly 2.7%, while China and Spain increased substantially, reaching almost 1.4% and 1.1%. However, France and the UK declined to 2% as well as 1.5%.

For the remaining year in 2011, all country’s consumption on research and development showed an increasing trend. The USA spent the largest GDP at 2.9%, whereas China and France had the lowest proportion, at close to 1.8% and 2.2%. Furthermore, Spain and the UK had the least common consumption at approximately 1.3% and 1.5% respectively.