R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D in Ireland

Ireland: R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D was 50,662 Persons in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
50,662 Persons
World rank
19th
of 23 countries
All-time high
50,662 Persons
in 2019
All-time low
6,536 Persons
in 1981
Years of data
24
1981–2019

R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D in Ireland, 1981–2019

10.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k1981200020191981: 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 Persons2002: 24.0k Persons2003: 25.0k Persons2004: 26.2k Persons2019: 50.7k Persons

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

Analysis

In 2019, r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Ireland stood at 50,662 Persons. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

The figure is up 93.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Ireland peaked at 50,662 Persons in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6,536 Persons, in 1981.

That places Ireland 19th out of 23 countries with data for 2019, 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 major field of R&D — R&D in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Ireland, 1981 to 2019.
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%
2002 23,994 Persons +13.7%
2003 24,994 Persons +4.2%
2004 26,184 Persons +4.8%
2019 50,662 Persons +93.5%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 50,662 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 124,586 Persons, 41% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 50,662 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 124,586 Persons, 41% of the median. (20 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2019 +93.5% 26,184 Persons 50,662 Persons

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 24,066 Persons 21,094 Persons 26,184 Persons 4
2010s 50,662 Persons 50,662 Persons 50,662 Persons 1

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 16 Hungary 84,651 Persons compare
  2. 17 Finland 76,206 Persons compare
  3. 18 Argentina 59,150 Persons compare
  4. 20 Romania 43,973 Persons compare
  5. 21 South Africa 40,008 Persons compare
  6. 22 Luxembourg 7,062 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 32 places →

More reference data data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Ireland?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Ireland was 50,662 Persons in 2019, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 50,662 Persons in 2019.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d 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 major field of r&d — r&d?
Ireland ranks 19th out of 23 countries with data for 2019.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 93.5%. 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 major field of R&D — 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 major field of R&D — R&D in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-and-major-field-of-r-and-d-r-and-d-personnel/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D Personnel (total economy)
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
32 places, 610 data points, 1981–2023
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 field of research (natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agricultural and veterinary sciences, social sciences, and humanities and the arts).