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

United Kingdom: R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel was 739,816 Persons in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
739,816 Persons
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
3rd
of 12 countries
All-time high
739,816 Persons
in 2017
All-time low
470,197 Persons
in 2005
Years of data
11
2005–2017

R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in United Kingdom, 2005–2017

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k2005201120172005: 470.2k Persons2007: 499.2k Persons2009: 507.5k Persons2010: 524.3k Persons2011: 565.8k Persons2012: 580.5k Persons2013: 610.3k Persons2014: 646.2k Persons2015: 670.3k Persons2016: 695.9k Persons2017: 739.8k Persons

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

Analysis

In 2017, r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in United Kingdom stood at 739,816 Persons. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

That represents a change of up 6.3% on the previous year and up 48.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in United Kingdom peaked at 739,816 Persons in 2017 and was at its lowest, 470,197 Persons, in 2005.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

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

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel (total economy) in United Kingdom, 2005 to 2017.
Year Persons Change
2005 470,197 Persons
2007 499,191 Persons +6.2%
2009 507,524 Persons +1.7%
2010 524,333 Persons +3.3%
2011 565,769 Persons +7.9%
2012 580,452 Persons +2.6%
2013 610,276 Persons +5.1%
2014 646,201 Persons +5.9%
2015 670,286 Persons +3.7%
2016 695,925 Persons +3.8%
2017 739,816 Persons +6.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 492,304 Persons 470,197 Persons 507,524 Persons 3
2010s 629,132 Persons 524,333 Persons 739,816 Persons 8

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  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. 4 France 678,466 Persons compare
  5. 4 Türkiye 418,603 Persons compare
  6. 5 Poland 326,075 Persons compare
  7. 5 Italy 518,829 Persons compare
  8. 6 Netherlands 260,716 Persons compare
  9. 6 Spain 431,848 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in United Kingdom?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in United Kingdom was 739,816 Persons in 2017, 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 United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 739,816 Persons in 2017.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 470,197 Persons in 2005.
How does United Kingdom rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel?
United Kingdom ranks 3rd out of 12 countries with data for 2017.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 48.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom. 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/united-kingdom-2/

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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).