R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, educational attainment level (ISCED1997) and sex (1980-2015) by country
Countries reporting
48
Highest
875,005 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Japan
Lowest
1,246 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Cyprus
Median
48,828 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Years covered
36
1980–2015
Data points
1,221
What the numbers show
R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, educational attainment level (ISCED1997) and sex (1980-2015) is currently reported for 48 countries. The highest value is 875,005 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in Japan; the lowest is 1,246 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in Cyprus.
The median across all reporting countries is 48,828 Full-time equivalent (FTE), and the mean is 151,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE).
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 702.
Over the past decade 40 countries rose and 8 fell. The largest increase was in Türkiye (up 148.3%), and the largest decrease in Finland (down 12.4%).
R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, educational: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 875,005 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | down 2.4% | rising |
| 2 | Russia | 833,654 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | down 9.4% | falling |
| 2 | Russian Federation | 833,654 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | down 9.4% | falling |
| 4 | Germany | 640,516 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 34.8% | rising |
| 5 | South Korea | 442,027 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 105.3% | rising |
| 5 | Republic of Korea | 442,027 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 105.3% | rising |
| 7 | France | 417,129 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2014 | up 18.5% | rising |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 413,860 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 8 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 413,860 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 10 | Italy | 259,167 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 47.9% | rising |
| 11 | Spain | 200,866 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 14.9% | volatile |
| 12 | Netherlands | 129,060 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 12 | Netherlands | 129,060 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 14 | Türkiye | 122,288 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 148.3% | volatile |
| 15 | Poland | 109,249 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 42.3% | rising |
| 15 | Poland | 109,249 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 42.3% | rising |
| 17 | Sweden | 83,551 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 18 | Belgium | 77,520 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 44.9% | rising |
| 19 | Switzerland | 75,476 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2012 | up 44.4% | rising |
| 20 | Austria | 71,396 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 49.9% | rising |
| 21 | Czechia | 66,433 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 53.2% | rising |
| 22 | Denmark | 59,532 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 36.9% | rising |
| 23 | Finland | 50,367 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | down 12.4% | rising |
| 24 | Greece | 49,658 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 47.8% | rising |
| 25 | Portugal | 47,999 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 86.6% | volatile |
| 26 | Norway | 42,409 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 41.5% | rising |
| 27 | Hungary | 36,847 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 58.6% | falling |
| 28 | Ireland | 35,170 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 110.7% | volatile |
| 29 | Romania | 31,331 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 30 | Bulgaria | 22,492 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 41.9% | falling |
| 31 | Serbia | 21,573 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 24.2% | rising |
| 32 | Slovakia | 17,591 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 22.1% | rising |
| 32 | Slovakia | 17,591 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 22.1% | rising |
| 34 | Slovenia | 14,225 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 58.2% | rising |
| 34 | Slovenia | 14,225 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 58.2% | rising |
| 36 | Croatia | 10,645 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 14.8% | flat |
| 36 | Croatia | 10,645 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 14.8% | flat |
| 38 | Lithuania | 10,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | down 3.6% | falling |
| 38 | Lithuania | 10,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | down 3.6% | falling |
| 40 | Estonia | 5,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 29.2% | rising |
| 40 | Estonia | 5,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 29.2% | rising |
| 42 | Latvia | 5,570 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 42 | Latvia | 5,570 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 44 | Luxembourg | 5,227 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 45 | Iceland | 2,941 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | down 8.8% | rising |
| 46 | North Macedonia | 2,024 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 41.1% | rising |
| 47 | Malta | 1,422 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 72.4% | rising |
| 48 | Cyprus | 1,246 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2015 | up 7.7% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- China except Hong Kong 3.76 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- European Union - 28 countries (2013-2020) 2.87 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 2.46 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- Euro area - 19 countries (2015-2022) 2.04 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)