R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Ireland
Ireland: R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS was 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
26th
of 48 countries
All-time high
45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
All-time low
4,953 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1981
Years of data
44
1981–2024
R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Ireland, 1981–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
The most recent figure for r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Ireland is 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE), measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 35.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Ireland peaked at 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4,953 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1981.
That places Ireland 26th out of 48 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 4,953 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1982 | 4,960 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 5,050 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 5,230 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 5,341 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 5,448 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 5,704 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 5,827 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 6,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.6% |
| 1990 | 6,846 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.2% |
| 1991 | 8,002 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +16.9% |
| 1992 | 8,488 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.1% |
| 1993 | 7,837 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 8,654 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.4% |
| 1995 | 9,662 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.6% |
| 1996 | 9,999 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 10,826 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.3% |
| 1998 | 11,613 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.3% |
| 1999 | 11,929 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 12,761 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 13,317 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 13,582 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 14,450 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 15,713 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 16,696 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 17,444 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 18,157 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 20,018 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.2% |
| 2009 | 19,705 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 19,722 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 21,591 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 29,284 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +35.6% |
| 2013 | 24,129 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -17.6% |
| 2014 | 33,494 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +38.8% |
| 2015 | 34,690 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 34,374 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 35,771 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 31,126 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -13.0% |
| 2019 | 32,929 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 34,543 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 38,444 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.3% |
| 2022 | 40,393 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 43,714 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.2% |
| 2024 | 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is below the median for high income countries, which is 70,453 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 64% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 59,464 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 76% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +38.8% | 24,129 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 33,494 Full-time equivalent (FTE) |
| 2012 | +35.6% | 21,591 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 29,284 Full-time equivalent (FTE) |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5,427 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 4,953 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 6,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 9 |
| 1990s | 9,386 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 6,846 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 11,929 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,184 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 12,761 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 20,018 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,711 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 19,722 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 35,771 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 40,470 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 34,543 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 23 Finland 62,431 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 24 Hungary 59,464 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 25 Norway 52,434 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 27 Romania 36,828 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 28 Serbia 28,333 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 29 Bulgaria 26,472 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More science & technology data for Ireland
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 112.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.1 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 5.92 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 83.58 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 8,720 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0016 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Ireland?
- R&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Ireland was 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,953 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1981.
- How does Ireland rank for r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts?
- Ireland ranks 26th out of 48 countries with data for 2024.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS 2 region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).