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

South Africa: R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D was 40,008 Persons in 2001. ▲ Rising

Latest (2001)
40,008 Persons
World rank
21st
of 23 countries
All-time high
40,008 Persons
in 2001
All-time low
26,481 Persons
in 1983
Years of data
7
1983–2001

R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D in South Africa, 1983–2001

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k1983199220011983: 26.5k Persons1985: 35.3k Persons1987: 39.2k Persons1989: 36.6k Persons1991: 37.8k Persons1993: 30.2k Persons2001: 40.0k Persons

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 40,008 Persons for r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in 2001. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

That represents a change of up 6.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in South Africa peaked at 40,008 Persons in 2001 and was at its lowest, 26,481 Persons, in 1983.

That places South Africa 21st out of 23 countries with data for 2001, putting it in the bottom quarter.

R&D personnel by sector of performance and major field of R&D — R&D in South Africa, 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 South Africa, 1983 to 2001.
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%

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 40,008 Persons 40,008 Persons 40,008 Persons 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 18 Argentina 59,150 Persons compare
  2. 19 Ireland 50,662 Persons compare
  3. 20 Romania 43,973 Persons compare
  4. 22 Luxembourg 7,062 Persons
  5. 23 Iceland 5,466 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 32 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 major field of r&d — r&d in South Africa?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d in South Africa was 40,008 Persons in 2001, 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 South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 40,008 Persons in 2001.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d 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 major field of r&d — r&d?
South Africa ranks 21st out of 23 countries with data for 2001.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and major field of r&d — r&d rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. 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 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 South Africa. 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/south-africa/

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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).