R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy) by country
This table presents research and development (R&D) personnel statistics. Number of R&D personnel is provided in headcounts;D by sex, sector of employment (business enterprise, government, higher education, and private non-profit) and by formal qualification (university and other diplomas by ISCED classification).
What the numbers show
R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy) is currently reported for 32 countries. The highest value is 1.18 million Persons in Japan; the lowest is 4,792 Persons in Iceland.
The median across all reporting countries is 94,112 Persons, and the mean is 194,191 Persons.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 246.
Over the past decade 30 countries rose and 2 fell. The largest increase was in Poland (up 130.1%), and the largest decrease in Iceland (down 8.2%).
R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 1.18 million Persons | 2016 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 2 | Russian Federation | 682,464 Persons | 2019 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 2 | Türkiye | 418,603 Persons | 2024 | up 95.9% | volatile |
| 3 | Italy | 518,829 Persons | 2023 | up 39.3% | rising |
| 3 | Poland | 321,391 Persons | 2022 | up 130.1% | rising |
| 4 | Spain | 431,848 Persons | 2023 | up 29.6% | rising |
| 5 | France | 390,631 Persons | 2001 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 5 | Croatia | 28,059 Persons | 2023 | up 65.0% | rising |
| 6 | Chinese Taipei | 388,265 Persons | 2024 | up 26.3% | rising |
| 6 | Lithuania | 25,940 Persons | 2023 | up 14.0% | rising |
| 7 | Belgium | 164,518 Persons | 2023 | up 63.8% | rising |
| 7 | Slovenia | 25,863 Persons | 2023 | up 21.6% | rising |
| 8 | Portugal | 163,630 Persons | 2024 | up 68.8% | volatile |
| 8 | Latvia | 14,073 Persons | 2023 | up 36.3% | rising |
| 9 | Austria | 154,827 Persons | 2023 | up 32.3% | rising |
| 9 | Estonia | 13,729 Persons | 2023 | up 33.5% | rising |
| 10 | Switzerland | 149,651 Persons | 2023 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 11 | Sweden | 139,853 Persons | 2023 | up 4.4% | rising |
| 12 | Greece | 132,622 Persons | 2023 | up 60.4% | rising |
| 13 | Czechia | 100,128 Persons | 2015 | up 53.2% | rising |
| 14 | Mexico | 97,604 Persons | 2020 | up 2.8% | rising |
| 15 | Finland | 90,620 Persons | 2023 | up 14.8% | rising |
| 16 | Hungary | 89,907 Persons | 2023 | up 54.4% | rising |
| 17 | Norway | 89,864 Persons | 2019 | up 40.1% | rising |
| 18 | South Africa | 89,604 Persons | 2023 | up 30.2% | rising |
| 19 | Argentina | 73,558 Persons | 2007 | up 52.1% | rising |
| 20 | Singapore | 61,693 Persons | 2023 | up 30.6% | rising |
| 21 | Ireland | 55,482 Persons | 2021 | up 53.2% | volatile |
| 22 | Romania | 48,103 Persons | 2023 | up 10.9% | falling |
| 23 | Bulgaria | 35,179 Persons | 2023 | up 57.7% | rising |
| 24 | Chile | 32,392 Persons | 2022 | up 54.6% | rising |
| 25 | Iceland | 4,792 Persons | 2011 | down 8.2% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- China (People's Republic of) 10.23 million Persons
- Slovak Republic 33,185 Persons
About this data
This table presents research and development (R&D) personnel statistics. Number of R&D personnel is provided in headcounts;D by sex, sector of employment (business enterprise, government, higher education, and private non-profit) and by formal qualification (university and other diplomas by ISCED classification).