A method for overall evaluation of national S&T activities using a large number of quantitative indicators is proposed. Multivariate analysis was used to analyse the structure of a set of 14 S&T indicators in the USA, Japan, Germany, France and the UK. The original indicators were integrated into a single indicator of S&T activities — the General Indicator of Science and Technology (GIST). Latent dynamics underlying the set of indicators naturally emerge from this analysis, and it helps to explain the nature of S&T activity in each country. The GIST is used to discuss the reforms of the Japanese Government in recent years in its S&T policies, thus showing the potential of the methodology as a tool for policymakers. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.