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

Italy: R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D was 544,094 Persons in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
544,094 Persons
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
3rd
of 23 countries
All-time high
544,094 Persons
in 2019
All-time low
146,976 Persons
in 1985
Years of data
34
1985–2019

R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D in Italy, 1985–2019

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k1985200220191985: 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 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 Italy stood at 544,094 Persons. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 53.5% over ten years.

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

Italy ranks 3rd of 23 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D in Italy, 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 Italy, 1985 to 2019.
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%

Italy compared with similar countries

  • Italy's 544,094 Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 124,586 Persons, 4.4× the median. (20 countries reporting)
  • Italy's 544,094 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 124,586 Persons, 4.4× the median. (20 countries reporting)

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

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 1 Türkiye 321,392 Persons compare
  2. 1 Germany 1.04 million Persons compare
  3. 2 Russia 839,338 Persons compare
  4. 3 Poland 271,025 Persons compare
  5. 4 France 415,061 Persons compare
  6. 4 Netherlands 226,732 Persons compare
  7. 5 Spain 377,862 Persons compare
  8. 6 Taiwan 157,225 Persons compare
  9. 6 Slovenia 25,062 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 32 places →

More reference data data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Italy?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Italy was 544,094 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 Italy?
The highest recorded value was 544,094 Persons in 2019.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d 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 major field of r&d — r&d?
Italy ranks 3rd 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 Italy?
Over the last ten years it is up 53.5%. 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 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 Italy. 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/italy/

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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).