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

Switzerland: R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D was 149,651 Persons in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
149,651 Persons
Change on year
up 6.9%
World rank
10th
of 25 countries
All-time high
149,651 Persons
in 2023
All-time low
77,810 Persons
in 1996
Years of data
10
1996–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Switzerland, 1996–2023

050.0k100.0k150.0k1996200920231996: 77.8k Persons2000: 87.0k Persons2004: 84.1k Persons2008: 100.2k Persons2012: 117.5k Persons2015: 124.5k Persons2017: 122.4k Persons2019: 133.3k Persons2021: 139.9k Persons2023: 149.7k 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 Switzerland is 149,651 Persons, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 27.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Switzerland peaked at 149,651 Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 77,810 Persons, in 1996.

That places Switzerland 10th 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 10 years of available data.

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

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Switzerland, 1996 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
1996 77,810 Persons
2000 86,990 Persons +11.8%
2004 84,090 Persons -3.3%
2008 100,164 Persons +19.1%
2012 117,457 Persons +17.3%
2015 124,475 Persons +6.0%
2017 122,426 Persons -1.6%
2019 133,306 Persons +8.9%
2021 139,927 Persons +5.0%
2023 149,651 Persons +6.9%

Switzerland compared with similar countries

  • Switzerland's 149,651 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 132,622 Persons, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Switzerland's 149,651 Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 136,238 Persons, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 77,810 Persons 77,810 Persons 77,810 Persons 1
2000s 90,415 Persons 84,090 Persons 100,164 Persons 3
2010s 124,416 Persons 117,457 Persons 133,306 Persons 4
2020s 144,789 Persons 139,927 Persons 149,651 Persons 2

Countries ranked near Switzerland

  1. 7 Belgium 164,518 Persons compare
  2. 7 Slovenia 25,863 Persons compare
  3. 8 Latvia 14,073 Persons compare
  4. 8 Portugal 163,630 Persons compare
  5. 9 Austria 154,827 Persons compare
  6. 9 Estonia 13,729 Persons compare
  7. 11 Sweden 139,853 Persons compare
  8. 12 Greece 132,622 Persons compare
  9. 13 Czechia 100,128 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More reference data data for Switzerland

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Switzerland?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Switzerland was 149,651 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 Switzerland?
The highest recorded value was 149,651 Persons in 2023.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d recorded in Switzerland?
The lowest recorded value was 77,810 Persons in 1996.
How does Switzerland rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d?
Switzerland ranks 10th 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 Switzerland?
Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Switzerland 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 Switzerland. 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/switzerland/

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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).