China vs Iran: Number of R&D researchers per million people
China
2,107 per million people
in 2023
Iran
2,240 per million people
in 2021
China rank
45th
Iran rank
42nd
Number of R&D researchers per million people over time
- China
- Iran
How they compare
Iran currently reports 2,240 per million people against 2,107 per million people in China, a difference of 133 per million people.
That makes Iran's figure about 1.1 times China's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 10 shared years of data; in 2006 it was China ahead.
China ranks 45th and Iran ranks 42nd of 103 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and Iran in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Iran | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 996.68 per million people | 702.27 per million people | 294.41 per million people | China |
| 2010s | 1,148 per million people | 969.61 per million people | 178.7 per million people | China |
| 2020s | 1,686 per million people | 2,240 per million people | 553.76 per million people | Iran |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of r&d researchers per million people, China or Iran?
- Iran, at 2,240 per million people against 2,107 per million people in China as of 2021.
- What is the difference in number of r&d researchers per million people between China and Iran?
- 133 per million people, with Iran ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Iran?
- 10 years are reported by both, from 2006 to 2021.
- How do China and Iran rank globally for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- China ranks 45th and Iran ranks 42nd 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
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