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

South Africa: R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D was 89,604 Persons in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
89,604 Persons
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
18th
of 25 countries
All-time high
89,604 Persons
in 2023
All-time low
26,481 Persons
in 1983
Years of data
28
1983–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in South Africa, 1983–2023

20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k1983200320231983: 26.5k Persons1985: 35.3k Persons1987: 39.2k Persons1989: 36.6k Persons1991: 37.8k Persons1993: 30.2k Persons2001: 40.0k Persons2003: 48.6k Persons2004: 56.5k Persons2005: 57.3k Persons2006: 58.7k Persons2007: 59.3k Persons2008: 58.9k Persons2009: 59.5k Persons2010: 55.5k Persons2011: 59.5k Persons2012: 64.9k Persons2013: 68.8k Persons2014: 72.4k Persons2015: 74.9k Persons2016: 80.0k Persons2017: 84.3k Persons2018: 84.6k Persons2019: 81.7k Persons2020: 82.7k Persons2021: 85.6k Persons2022: 84.3k Persons2023: 89.6k Persons

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in South Africa is 89,604 Persons, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.3% on the previous year and up 30.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in South Africa peaked at 89,604 Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 26,481 Persons, in 1983.

That places South Africa 18th out of 25 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

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

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy) in South Africa, 1983 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
1983 26,481 Persons
1985 35,286 Persons +33.3%
1987 39,237 Persons +11.2%
1989 36,594 Persons -6.7%
1991 37,755 Persons +3.2%
1993 30,231 Persons -19.9%
2001 40,008 Persons +32.3%
2003 48,552 Persons +21.4%
2004 56,453 Persons +16.3%
2005 57,275 Persons +1.5%
2006 58,706 Persons +2.5%
2007 59,344 Persons +1.1%
2008 58,895 Persons -0.8%
2009 59,494 Persons +1.0%
2010 55,531 Persons -6.7%
2011 59,487 Persons +7.1%
2012 64,917 Persons +9.1%
2013 68,838 Persons +6.0%
2014 72,400 Persons +5.2%
2015 74,931 Persons +3.5%
2016 80,029 Persons +6.8%
2017 84,262 Persons +5.3%
2018 84,555 Persons +0.3%
2019 81,677 Persons -3.4%
2020 82,744 Persons +1.3%
2021 85,601 Persons +3.5%
2022 84,275 Persons -1.5%
2023 89,604 Persons +6.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 34,400 Persons 26,481 Persons 39,237 Persons 4
1990s 33,993 Persons 30,231 Persons 37,755 Persons 2
2000s 54,841 Persons 40,008 Persons 59,494 Persons 8
2010s 72,663 Persons 55,531 Persons 84,555 Persons 10
2020s 85,556 Persons 82,744 Persons 89,604 Persons 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 15 Finland 90,620 Persons compare
  2. 16 Hungary 89,907 Persons compare
  3. 17 Norway 89,864 Persons compare
  4. 19 Argentina 73,558 Persons compare
  5. 20 Singapore 61,693 Persons compare
  6. 21 Ireland 55,482 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in South Africa?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in South Africa was 89,604 Persons in 2023, 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 South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 89,604 Persons in 2023.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 26,481 Persons in 1983.
How does South Africa rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d?
South Africa ranks 18th out of 25 countries with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa. 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/south-africa/

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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).