Belgium vs Netherlands: Number of R&D researchers per million people
Belgium
5,990 per million people
in 2023
Netherlands
6,563 per million people
in 2023
Belgium rank
10th
Netherlands rank
8th
Number of R&D researchers per million people over time
- Belgium
- Netherlands
How they compare
Netherlands currently reports 6,563 per million people against 5,990 per million people in Belgium, a difference of 573 per million people.
That makes Netherlands's figure about 1.1 times Belgium's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 28 shared years of data; in 1996 it was Belgium ahead.
Belgium ranks 10th and Netherlands ranks 8th of 103 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 2 and Netherlands in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Belgium | Netherlands | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2,669 per million people | 2,454 per million people | 215.76 per million people | Belgium |
| 2000s | 3,212 per million people | 2,891 per million people | 321.08 per million people | Belgium |
| 2010s | 4,508 per million people | 4,737 per million people | 229.36 per million people | Netherlands |
| 2020s | 5,750 per million people | 6,171 per million people | 421.76 per million people | Netherlands |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of r&d researchers per million people, Belgium or Netherlands?
- Netherlands, at 6,563 per million people against 5,990 per million people in Belgium as of 2023.
- What is the difference in number of r&d researchers per million people between Belgium and Netherlands?
- 573 per million people, with Netherlands ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Netherlands?
- 28 years are reported by both, from 1996 to 2023.
- How do Belgium and Netherlands rank globally for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Belgium ranks 10th and Netherlands ranks 8th of 103 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Number of R&D researchers per million people. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
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About this data
Professionals engaged in conceiving or creating new knowledge, products, processes, methods, or systems.