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

Portugal: R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D was 131,128 Persons in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
131,128 Persons
Change on year
up 6.6%
World rank
11th
of 23 countries
All-time high
131,128 Persons
in 2020
All-time low
11,723 Persons
in 1982
Years of data
39
1982–2020

R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D in Portugal, 1982–2020

025.0k50.0k75.0k100.0k125.0k1982200120201982: 11.7k Persons1983: 12.7k Persons1984: 13.7k Persons1985: 14.8k Persons1986: 15.9k Persons1987: 16.4k Persons1988: 16.8k Persons1989: 17.9k Persons1990: 19.0k Persons1991: 20.3k Persons1992: 21.6k Persons1993: 22.6k Persons1994: 24.0k Persons1995: 25.0k Persons1996: 27.2k Persons1997: 29.4k Persons1998: 33.1k Persons1999: 36.9k Persons2000: 38.0k Persons2001: 39.2k Persons2002: 41.6k Persons2003: 44.0k Persons2004: 44.3k Persons2005: 44.6k Persons2006: 53.7k Persons2007: 62.8k Persons2008: 87.6k Persons2009: 88.5k Persons2010: 91.9k Persons2011: 94.1k Persons2012: 93.0k Persons2013: 95.3k Persons2014: 97.0k Persons2015: 103.3k Persons2016: 103.7k Persons2017: 109.3k Persons2018: 116.9k Persons2019: 123.0k Persons2020: 131.1k Persons

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Portugal is 131,128 Persons, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.

The figure is up 6.6% on the previous year and up 42.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Portugal peaked at 131,128 Persons in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11,723 Persons, in 1982.

Portugal ranks 11th of 23 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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 Portugal, 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 Portugal, 1982 to 2020.
Year Persons Change
1982 11,723 Persons
1983 12,729 Persons +8.6%
1984 13,734 Persons +7.9%
1985 14,819 Persons +7.9%
1986 15,903 Persons +7.3%
1987 16,376 Persons +3.0%
1988 16,849 Persons +2.9%
1989 17,901 Persons +6.2%
1990 18,953 Persons +5.9%
1991 20,280 Persons +7.0%
1992 21,607 Persons +6.5%
1993 22,644 Persons +4.8%
1994 24,042 Persons +6.2%
1995 25,024 Persons +4.1%
1996 27,219 Persons +8.8%
1997 29,413 Persons +8.1%
1998 33,143 Persons +12.7%
1999 36,872 Persons +11.3%
2000 38,018 Persons +3.1%
2001 39,163 Persons +3.0%
2002 41,601 Persons +6.2%
2003 44,036 Persons +5.9%
2004 44,311 Persons +0.6%
2005 44,585 Persons +0.6%
2006 53,669 Persons +20.4%
2007 62,752 Persons +16.9%
2008 87,565 Persons +39.5%
2009 88,532 Persons +1.1%
2010 91,917 Persons +3.8%
2011 94,077 Persons +2.3%
2012 92,977 Persons -1.2%
2013 95,347 Persons +2.5%
2014 96,952 Persons +1.7%
2015 103,291 Persons +6.5%
2016 103,680 Persons +0.4%
2017 109,251 Persons +5.4%
2018 116,864 Persons +7.0%
2019 123,012 Persons +5.3%
2020 131,128 Persons +6.6%

Portugal compared with similar countries

  • Portugal's 131,128 Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 124,586 Persons, 1.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
  • Portugal's 131,128 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 124,586 Persons, 1.1× 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 Portugal 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
2008 +39.5% 62,752 Persons 87,565 Persons

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 15,004 Persons 11,723 Persons 17,901 Persons 8
1990s 25,920 Persons 18,953 Persons 36,872 Persons 10
2000s 54,423 Persons 38,018 Persons 88,532 Persons 10
2010s 102,737 Persons 91,917 Persons 123,012 Persons 10
2020s 131,128 Persons 131,128 Persons 131,128 Persons 1

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 8 Austria 147,072 Persons compare
  2. 8 Latvia 12,550 Persons compare
  3. 9 Sweden 139,853 Persons compare
  4. 9 Estonia 10,334 Persons compare
  5. 10 Switzerland 132,605 Persons compare
  6. 12 Czechia 118,044 Persons compare
  7. 13 Greece 103,525 Persons compare
  8. 14 Norway 89,864 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 32 places →

More reference data data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Portugal?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in Portugal was 131,128 Persons in 2020, 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 Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 131,128 Persons in 2020.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 11,723 Persons in 1982.
How does Portugal rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d?
Portugal ranks 11th out of 23 countries with data for 2020.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Portugal 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 Portugal. 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/portugal/

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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).