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

Korea: R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel was 839,582 Persons in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
839,582 Persons
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
2nd
of 12 groups
All-time high
839,582 Persons
in 2024
All-time low
199,191 Persons
in 1998
Years of data
28
1997–2024

R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in Korea, 1997–2024

200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1997201020241997: 212.1k Persons1998: 199.2k Persons1999: 212.5k Persons2000: 237.2k Persons2001: 261.8k Persons2002: 279.8k Persons2003: 297.1k Persons2004: 312.3k Persons2005: 335.4k Persons2006: 365.8k Persons2007: 421.5k Persons2008: 436.2k Persons2009: 466.8k Persons2010: 500.1k Persons2011: 531.1k Persons2012: 562.6k Persons2013: 569.3k Persons2014: 605.6k Persons2015: 619.9k Persons2016: 624.9k Persons2017: 650.2k Persons2018: 691.1k Persons2019: 718.8k Persons2020: 747.3k Persons2021: 785.6k Persons2022: 813.8k Persons2023: 828.0k Persons2024: 839.6k Persons

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

Analysis

In 2024, r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Korea stood at 839,582 Persons. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 38.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Korea peaked at 839,582 Persons in 2024 and was at its lowest, 199,191 Persons, in 1998.

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

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

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Korea, 1997 to 2024.
Year Persons Change
1997 212,117 Persons
1998 199,191 Persons -6.1%
1999 212,510 Persons +6.7%
2000 237,232 Persons +11.6%
2001 261,802 Persons +10.4%
2002 279,806 Persons +6.9%
2003 297,060 Persons +6.2%
2004 312,314 Persons +5.1%
2005 335,428 Persons +7.4%
2006 365,794 Persons +9.1%
2007 421,549 Persons +15.2%
2008 436,228 Persons +3.5%
2009 466,824 Persons +7.0%
2010 500,124 Persons +7.1%
2011 531,131 Persons +6.2%
2012 562,601 Persons +5.9%
2013 569,333 Persons +1.2%
2014 605,604 Persons +6.4%
2015 619,907 Persons +2.4%
2016 624,910 Persons +0.8%
2017 650,243 Persons +4.1%
2018 691,060 Persons +6.3%
2019 718,759 Persons +4.0%
2020 747,288 Persons +4.0%
2021 785,594 Persons +5.1%
2022 813,763 Persons +3.6%
2023 827,963 Persons +1.7%
2024 839,582 Persons +1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 207,939 Persons 199,191 Persons 212,510 Persons 3
2000s 341,404 Persons 237,232 Persons 466,824 Persons 10
2010s 607,367 Persons 500,124 Persons 718,759 Persons 10
2020s 802,838 Persons 747,288 Persons 839,582 Persons 5

Countries ranked near Korea

  1. 1 Japan 1.32 million Persons compare
  2. 2 Germany 1.17 million Persons compare
  3. 3 Russian Federation 679,333 Persons compare
  4. 3 United Kingdom 739,816 Persons compare
  5. 4 France 678,466 Persons compare
  6. 4 Türkiye 418,603 Persons compare
  7. 5 Poland 326,075 Persons compare
  8. 5 Italy 518,829 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More reference data data for Korea

All data for Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Korea?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Korea was 839,582 Persons in 2024, 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 Korea?
The highest recorded value was 839,582 Persons in 2024.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel recorded in Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 199,191 Persons in 1998.
How does Korea rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel?
Korea ranks 2nd out of 12 groups with data for 2024.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel rising or falling in Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Korea 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 Korea. 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/korea/

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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).