R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in Ireland

Ireland: R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel was 66,623 Persons in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
66,623 Persons
Change on year
up 20.1%
World rank
23rd
of 30 countries
All-time high
66,623 Persons
in 2023
All-time low
6,536 Persons
in 1981
Years of data
38
1981–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in Ireland, 1981–2023

020.0k40.0k60.0k1981200220231981: 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 Persons2012: 22.7k Persons2013: 47.5k Persons2015: 49.3k Persons2017: 50.5k Persons2019: 50.0k Persons2021: 55.5k Persons2023: 66.6k Persons

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

Analysis

Ireland recorded 66,623 Persons for r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in 2023. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.

The figure is up 20.1% on the previous year and up 40.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Ireland peaked at 66,623 Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6,536 Persons, in 1981.

That places Ireland 23rd out of 30 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 function — R&D Personnel in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Ireland, 1981 to 2023.
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%
2012 22,702 Persons -37.3%
2013 47,458 Persons +109.0%
2015 49,257 Persons +3.8%
2017 50,460 Persons +2.4%
2019 49,962 Persons -1.0%
2021 55,482 Persons +11.0%
2023 66,623 Persons +20.1%

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 41,383 Persons 22,702 Persons 50,460 Persons 7
2020s 61,052 Persons 55,482 Persons 66,623 Persons 2

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 20 South Africa 89,604 Persons compare
  2. 21 Mexico 89,438 Persons compare
  3. 22 New Zealand 73,000 Persons compare
  4. 24 Singapore 61,693 Persons compare
  5. 25 Romania 48,103 Persons compare
  6. 26 Bulgaria 35,179 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More reference data data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Ireland?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Ireland was 66,623 Persons in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 66,623 Persons in 2023.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel 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 function — r&d personnel?
Ireland ranks 23rd out of 30 countries with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 40.4%. 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 function — 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 function — R&D Personnel in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-and-function-r-and-d-personnel-total-economy/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel (total economy)
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
42 places, 1,049 data points, 1981–2024
Last refreshed

This table contains research and development (R&D) personnel statistics. Number of R&D personnel is provided in both headcounts and full-time equivalent on R&D by sex, sector of employment (business enterprise, government, higher education, and private non-profit) and by function (researchers, technicians and other support staff).