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

Italy: R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel was 518,829 Persons in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
518,829 Persons
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
5th
of 30 countries
All-time high
544,094 Persons
in 2019
All-time low
146,976 Persons
in 1985
Years of data
38
1985–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in Italy, 1985–2023

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k1985200420231985: 147.0k Persons1986: 152.5k Persons1987: 160.4k Persons1988: 170.0k Persons1989: 176.6k Persons1990: 180.0k Persons1991: 179.9k Persons1992: 179.7k Persons1993: 179.6k Persons1994: 183.8k Persons1995: 183.8k Persons1996: 185.6k Persons1998: 221.1k Persons1999: 215.6k Persons2000: 228.7k Persons2001: 236.1k Persons2002: 253.1k Persons2003: 249.9k Persons2004: 255.5k Persons2005: 277.4k Persons2006: 306.1k Persons2007: 334.5k Persons2008: 353.3k Persons2009: 354.5k Persons2010: 348.2k Persons2011: 347.0k Persons2012: 364.3k Persons2013: 372.4k Persons2014: 371.1k Persons2015: 389.6k Persons2016: 435.3k Persons2017: 482.7k Persons2018: 526.6k Persons2019: 544.1k Persons2020: 520.8k Persons2021: 501.0k Persons2022: 503.0k Persons2023: 518.8k 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 function — r&d personnel in Italy is 518,829 Persons, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 39.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Italy peaked at 544,094 Persons in 2019 and was at its lowest, 146,976 Persons, in 1985.

Italy ranks 5th of 30 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.

R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in Italy, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Italy, 1985 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
1985 146,976 Persons
1986 152,548 Persons +3.8%
1987 160,434 Persons +5.2%
1988 170,003 Persons +6.0%
1989 176,649 Persons +3.9%
1990 179,978 Persons +1.9%
1991 179,900 Persons -0.0%
1992 179,740 Persons -0.1%
1993 179,557 Persons -0.1%
1994 183,850 Persons +2.4%
1995 183,812 Persons -0.0%
1996 185,641 Persons +1.0%
1998 221,084 Persons +19.1%
1999 215,562 Persons -2.5%
2000 228,702 Persons +6.1%
2001 236,077 Persons +3.2%
2002 253,084 Persons +7.2%
2003 249,889 Persons -1.3%
2004 255,535 Persons +2.3%
2005 277,370 Persons +8.5%
2006 306,088 Persons +10.4%
2007 334,503 Persons +9.3%
2008 353,267 Persons +5.6%
2009 354,513 Persons +0.4%
2010 348,215 Persons -1.8%
2011 347,005 Persons -0.3%
2012 364,315 Persons +5.0%
2013 372,444 Persons +2.2%
2014 371,117 Persons -0.4%
2015 389,604 Persons +5.0%
2016 435,283 Persons +11.7%
2017 482,703 Persons +10.9%
2018 526,620 Persons +9.1%
2019 544,094 Persons +3.3%
2020 520,750 Persons -4.3%
2021 500,994 Persons -3.8%
2022 503,029 Persons +0.4%
2023 518,829 Persons +3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 161,322 Persons 146,976 Persons 176,649 Persons 5
1990s 189,903 Persons 179,557 Persons 221,084 Persons 9
2000s 284,903 Persons 228,702 Persons 354,513 Persons 10
2010s 418,140 Persons 347,005 Persons 544,094 Persons 10
2020s 510,900 Persons 500,994 Persons 520,750 Persons 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 2 Germany 1.17 million Persons compare
  2. 3 Russian Federation 679,333 Persons compare
  3. 3 United Kingdom 739,816 Persons compare
  4. 4 France 678,466 Persons compare
  5. 4 Türkiye 418,603 Persons compare
  6. 5 Poland 326,075 Persons compare
  7. 6 Netherlands 260,716 Persons compare
  8. 6 Spain 431,848 Persons compare
  9. 7 Chinese Taipei 388,265 Persons compare
  10. 8 Croatia 28,059 Persons compare
  11. 8 Belgium 164,518 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More reference data data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Italy?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Italy was 518,829 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 Italy?
The highest recorded value was 544,094 Persons in 2019.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 146,976 Persons in 1985.
How does Italy rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel?
Italy ranks 5th 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 Italy?
Over the last ten years it is up 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Italy 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 Italy. 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/italy/

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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).