R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Ireland

Ireland: R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D was 55,482 Persons in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
55,482 Persons
Change on year
up 11.0%
World rank
21st
of 25 countries
All-time high
55,482 Persons
in 2021
All-time low
6,536 Persons
in 1981
Years of data
36
1981–2021

R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Ireland, 1981–2021

10.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k60.0k1981200120211981: 6.5k Persons1982: 6.6k Persons1983: 6.7k Persons1984: 7.0k Persons1985: 7.1k Persons1986: 7.1k Persons1987: 7.6k Persons1988: 7.9k Persons1989: 8.7k Persons1990: 9.5k Persons1991: 11.0k Persons1992: 11.7k Persons1993: 10.4k Persons1994: 11.4k Persons1995: 12.6k Persons1996: 13.1k Persons1997: 14.2k Persons1998: 15.2k Persons1999: 16.1k Persons2000: 21.1k Persons2001: 24.2k Persons2002: 24.5k Persons2003: 25.2k Persons2004: 26.6k Persons2005: 28.3k Persons2006: 30.0k Persons2007: 30.9k Persons2008: 32.6k Persons2009: 33.9k Persons2010: 33.6k Persons2011: 36.2k Persons2013: 47.5k Persons2015: 49.3k Persons2017: 50.5k Persons2019: 50.0k Persons2021: 55.5k Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

In 2021, r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Ireland stood at 55,482 Persons. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.

That represents a change of up 11.0% on the previous year and up 53.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Ireland peaked at 55,482 Persons in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6,536 Persons, in 1981.

Ireland ranks 21st of 25 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Ireland, 1981 to 2021.
Year Persons Change
1981 6,536 Persons
1982 6,571 Persons +0.5%
1983 6,723 Persons +2.3%
1984 6,991 Persons +4.0%
1985 7,072 Persons +1.2%
1986 7,144 Persons +1.0%
1987 7,648 Persons +7.1%
1988 7,920 Persons +3.6%
1989 8,709 Persons +10.0%
1990 9,519 Persons +9.3%
1991 10,976 Persons +15.3%
1992 11,692 Persons +6.5%
1993 10,433 Persons -10.8%
1994 11,369 Persons +9.0%
1995 12,637 Persons +11.2%
1996 13,130 Persons +3.9%
1997 14,200 Persons +8.1%
1998 15,219 Persons +7.2%
1999 16,128 Persons +6.0%
2000 21,094 Persons +30.8%
2001 24,220 Persons +14.8%
2002 24,486 Persons +1.1%
2003 25,194 Persons +2.9%
2004 26,584 Persons +5.5%
2005 28,270 Persons +6.3%
2006 29,954 Persons +6.0%
2007 30,856 Persons +3.0%
2008 32,551 Persons +5.5%
2009 33,875 Persons +4.1%
2010 33,630 Persons -0.7%
2011 36,214 Persons +7.7%
2013 47,458 Persons +31.1%
2015 49,257 Persons +3.8%
2017 50,460 Persons +2.4%
2019 49,962 Persons -1.0%
2021 55,482 Persons +11.0%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 55,482 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 132,622 Persons, 42% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 55,482 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 136,238 Persons, 41% of the median. (18 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 7,257 Persons 6,536 Persons 8,709 Persons 9
1990s 12,530 Persons 9,519 Persons 16,128 Persons 10
2000s 27,708 Persons 21,094 Persons 33,875 Persons 10
2010s 44,497 Persons 33,630 Persons 50,460 Persons 6
2020s 55,482 Persons 55,482 Persons 55,482 Persons 1

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 18 South Africa 89,604 Persons compare
  2. 19 Argentina 73,558 Persons compare
  3. 20 Singapore 61,693 Persons compare
  4. 22 Romania 48,103 Persons compare
  5. 23 Bulgaria 35,179 Persons compare
  6. 24 Chile 32,392 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More reference data data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Ireland?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Ireland was 55,482 Persons in 2021, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 55,482 Persons in 2021.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 6,536 Persons in 1981.
How does Ireland rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d?
Ireland ranks 21st out of 25 countries with data for 2021.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 53.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-and-formal-qualification-r-and-d-personnel/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy)
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
34 places, 789 data points, 1981–2024
Last refreshed

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).