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

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

Latest (2023)
89,604 Persons
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
20th
of 30 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 function — R&D Personnel 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: 84.0k Persons2019: 82.1k 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

In 2023, r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in South Africa stood at 89,604 Persons. 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 function — r&d personnel in South Africa peaked at 89,604 Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 26,481 Persons, in 1983.

South Africa ranks 20th of 30 countries on this measure, 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 function — R&D Personnel in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — 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 84,036 Persons -0.3%
2019 82,068 Persons -2.3%
2020 82,744 Persons +0.8%
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 72,650 Persons 55,531 Persons 84,262 Persons 10
2020s 85,556 Persons 82,744 Persons 89,604 Persons 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 17 Norway 98,010 Persons compare
  2. 18 Finland 90,620 Persons compare
  3. 19 Hungary 89,907 Persons compare
  4. 21 Mexico 89,438 Persons compare
  5. 22 New Zealand 73,000 Persons compare
  6. 23 Ireland 66,623 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 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 function — r&d personnel in South Africa?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel 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 function — r&d personnel 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 function — r&d personnel 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 function — r&d personnel?
South Africa ranks 20th 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 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 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 South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-and-function-r-and-d-personnel-total-economy/south-africa/

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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).