The paper provides a definition of hypercomplexity and hypercomplex knowledge in knowledge-based economies and proves the hypothesis that development, application and expansion of new technological achievements have a direct impact on a country's economic growth. Data collected from relevant databases for 110 world countries were used in the calculations. Data for other countries have not been published, which is a typical limitation in the application of such research methodology. Developmental lags of the Republic of Croatia have been established by the method of transformation of variables in the analysed developmental indicators and their components, and proposals for their improvement have been provided. Taking into consideration the established effect of the increase in the Research Capacity Development Index, Technology and Innovation Efficiency Index, and the Ability to Absorb Knowledge and Technology Index on economic growth, Croatia needs to invest additional resources in the increase in human capital and labour productivity in order to reduce developmental lags.