Costa Rica vs South Africa: Number of R&D researchers per million people
Costa Rica
507.76 per million people
in 2023
South Africa
444.16 per million people
in 2022
Costa Rica rank
73rd
South Africa rank
76th
Number of R&D researchers per million people over time
- Costa Rica
- South Africa
How they compare
Costa Rica currently reports 507.76 per million people against 444.16 per million people in South Africa, a difference of 63.6 per million people.
That makes Costa Rica's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 17 shared years of data; in 2003 it was South Africa ahead.
Costa Rica ranks 73rd and South Africa ranks 76th of 103 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 195.11 per million people | 355.64 per million people | 160.52 per million people | South Africa |
| 2010s | 426.49 per million people | 440.74 per million people | 14.25 per million people | South Africa |
| 2020s | 413.68 per million people | 452.98 per million people | 39.31 per million people | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of r&d researchers per million people, Costa Rica or South Africa?
- Costa Rica, at 507.76 per million people against 444.16 per million people in South Africa as of 2023.
- What is the difference in number of r&d researchers per million people between Costa Rica and South Africa?
- 63.6 per million people, with Costa Rica ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and South Africa?
- 17 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2022.
- How do Costa Rica and South Africa rank globally for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Costa Rica ranks 73rd and South Africa ranks 76th of 103 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – 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.