In this article, we talk about the 5 most advanced countries in Asia. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of development on the Asian continent, head to 12 Most Advanced Countries in Asia.
5. Taiwan
Human Development Index Score: 0.916
R&D share in 2020 GDP: 3.63%
Taiwan is located in East Asia and is one of the most advanced countries in Asia. The share of R&D in Taiwan in 2020 was a considerable 3.63% of its GDP. Its human development score was also very high at 0.916 in 2022.
Taiwan dominates the world’s chip industry with its TSMC company, which has a global market share of 53% as of 2022, easily surpassing any other chip manufacturing company on the planet. Other major technology companies in Taiwan include ASE Group and United Microelectronics Corporation.
4. Hong Kong
Human Development Index Score: 0.952
R&D share in 2020 GDP: 0.99%
Hong Kong’s human development score is very high at 0.952 according to HDI Index for 2021-22. Hong Kong spent 0.99% of its GDP in 2020 on Research and Development. As such, it has a thriving startup ecosystem that grew by 12% in 2021 to 3,755 companies.
Notable of these companies include Insilico, a machine-learning-based drug discoverer and biomarker developer, and Ascentage Pharma, which develops small-molecule drugs for Cancer treatment. 3. Singapore
Human Development Index Score: 0.939
R&D share in 2019 GDP: 1.89%
Singapore is a city state in Southeast Asia. It is a highly developed country, with a human development score of 0.939. The country spent 1.89% of its 2019 GDP on Research and Development. The Science & Technology scene in Singapore is thriving, with over 2000 patent applications filed by the country’s residents in 2021.
It is also one of the few countries in the world that have practically implemented novel technologies like robotics at a sizable scale. Reuters reported that Singapore has 605 robots in the workforce for every 10,000 humans.
As of 2022, Singapore is home to nearly 10,000 startups, with Trax being one of the most notable, which provides computer vision software to retailers.
2. South Korea
Human Development Index Score: 0.925
R&D share in 2020 GDP: 4.81%
South Korea is one of the most advanced countries in East Asia. The country spent 4.81% of its GDP on Research and Development, which is significant as the country’s global contribution in R&D stood at nearly 7% in 2019, considerably higher than most countries.
In the Global KTI output of 2019, South Korea’s contributions to computers and electronics development stood at 9%, making it one of the most innovative countries in Asia as well as the world.
Some of its most notable technology-manufacturing companies are Samsung and LG (acronym for Life’s Good). The startup ecosystem in South Korea is also one of the most sophisticated in the world. According to Tracxn, a leading startup tracker, South Korea is home to nearly 7,000 startups as of 2022.
1. Japan
Human Development Index Score: 0.925
R&D share in 2020 GDP: 3.26%
Japan is the most advanced country in Asia, owing to very high human development, a 2021 GDP size of $5.1 trillion and high R&D and global KTI share.
Its global output in Knowledge-and-Technology-Intensive industries was the third highest in the world in 2019 behind China and the US, at 8%.
Japan is a leading maker of robots in the world, accounting for the production of 45% of all the industrial robots in the world according to the International Federation of Robotics.
Its biggest robot-manufacturing companies include Toshiba, Toyota, Honda, Denso Corporation, FANUC and Epson among many others. Japan, as of 2022, is home to close to 6,000 startups according to Tracxn. Its most notable high-tech startups include JOLED, iSpace, Synspective and Astroscale.
You can also take a peek at 16 Biggest Hardware Companies in the World and 15 Most Advanced Countries in Education.
