R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Portugal

Portugal: R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS was 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 5.6%
World rank
20th
of 48 countries
All-time high
84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
All-time low
8,552 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1982
Years of data
43
1982–2024

R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Portugal, 1982–2024

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k1982200320241982: 8.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1983: 8.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1984: 9.3k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1985: 9.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1986: 10.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1987: 10.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1988: 10.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1989: 11.5k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1990: 12.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1991: 12.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1992: 13.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1993: 14.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1994: 14.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1995: 15.5k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1996: 16.8k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1997: 18.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1998: 19.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1999: 20.8k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2000: 21.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2001: 23.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2002: 24.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2003: 25.5k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2004: 25.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2005: 25.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2006: 30.5k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2007: 35.3k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2008: 47.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2009: 47.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2010: 47.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2011: 49.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2012: 47.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2013: 46.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2014: 46.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2015: 48.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2016: 50.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2017: 55.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2018: 58.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2019: 61.5k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2020: 66.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2021: 69.8k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2022: 74.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2023: 79.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2024: 84.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).

Analysis

In 2024, r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Portugal stood at 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE). That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 79.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Portugal peaked at 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8,552 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1982.

Portugal ranks 20th of 48 countries on this measure, 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 Portugal, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS 2 region in Portugal, 1982 to 2024.
Year Full-time equivalent (FTE) Change
1982 8,552 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
1983 8,910 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.2%
1984 9,268 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.0%
1985 9,919 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.0%
1986 10,570 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +6.6%
1987 10,727 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +1.5%
1988 10,883 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +1.5%
1989 11,463 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.3%
1990 12,043 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.1%
1991 12,746 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.8%
1992 13,448 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.5%
1993 14,047 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.5%
1994 14,716 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.8%
1995 15,465 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.1%
1996 16,750 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +8.3%
1997 18,035 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.7%
1998 19,420 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.7%
1999 20,806 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.1%
2000 21,888 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.2%
2001 22,970 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.9%
2002 24,250 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.6%
2003 25,529 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.3%
2004 25,629 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +0.4%
2005 25,728 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +0.4%
2006 30,531 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +18.7%
2007 35,334 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +15.7%
2008 47,882 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +35.5%
2009 47,097 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -1.6%
2010 47,616 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +1.1%
2011 49,599 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.2%
2012 47,554 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -4.1%
2013 46,711 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -1.8%
2014 46,878 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +0.4%
2015 47,999 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +2.4%
2016 50,406 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.0%
2017 54,995 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +9.1%
2018 58,154 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.7%
2019 61,455 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.7%
2020 66,044 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.5%
2021 69,769 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.6%
2022 74,102 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +6.2%
2023 79,570 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.4%
2024 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.6%

Portugal compared with similar countries

  • Portugal's 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 59,464 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 1.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
  • Portugal's 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 70,453 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Portugal 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.

YearChange FromTo
2008 +35.5% 35,334 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 47,882 Full-time equivalent (FTE)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 10,037 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 8,552 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 11,463 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 8
1990s 15,748 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 12,043 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 20,806 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 10
2000s 30,684 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 21,888 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 47,882 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 10
2010s 51,137 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 46,711 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 61,455 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 10
2020s 74,700 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 66,044 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 5

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 17 Switzerland 96,712 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  2. 18 Austria 95,525 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  3. 19 Czechia 86,948 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  4. 21 Denmark 71,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  5. 22 Greece 69,270 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  6. 23 Finland 62,431 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare

See the full ranking of 460 places →

More science & technology data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Portugal?
R&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Portugal was 84,012 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 Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024.
What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 8,552 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1982.
How does Portugal rank for r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts?
Portugal ranks 20th 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 Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 79.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Portugal 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.

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R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-and-researchers-by-sector-of-performance-sex-and-nuts-2-region/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS 2 region
Unit
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
460 places, 8,873 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed