R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Spain
Spain: R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS was 295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
10th
of 48 countries
All-time high
295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
All-time low
35,496 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
R&D personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and NUTS in Spain, 1980–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
In 2024, r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Spain stood at 295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE). That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and up 47.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Spain peaked at 295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024 and was at its lowest, 35,496 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1980.
That places Spain 10th out of 48 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Spain, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 35,496 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1981 | 36,221 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 35,530 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 36,169 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 39,287 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 40,654 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 45,261 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.3% |
| 1987 | 48,486 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 54,807 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +13.0% |
| 1989 | 63,155 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +15.2% |
| 1990 | 69,684 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.3% |
| 1991 | 72,406 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 73,320 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 75,734 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 80,399 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.2% |
| 1995 | 79,988 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 87,263 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 87,150 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 97,098 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.4% |
| 1999 | 102,237 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 120,618 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +18.0% |
| 2001 | 125,750 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 134,258 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 151,487 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +12.8% |
| 2004 | 161,933 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 174,773 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 188,978 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 201,108 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 215,676 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 220,777 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 222,022 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 215,079 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 208,831 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 203,302 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 200,233 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 200,866 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 205,873 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 215,744 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 225,696 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 231,413 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 231,769 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 249,474 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 263,407 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 282,415 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.2% |
| 2024 | 295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.6% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 70,453 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 4.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Spain's 295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 59,464 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 5.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43,507 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 35,496 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 63,155 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 1990s | 82,528 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 69,684 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 102,237 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 169,536 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 120,618 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 220,777 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 212,906 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 200,233 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 231,413 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 264,471 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 231,769 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 5 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 8 Italy 351,433 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 9 Türkiye 310,472 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 11 Poland 198,219 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 11 Poland 198,219 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 13 Netherlands 198,165 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 13 Netherlands 198,165 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More science & technology data for Spain
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 130.26 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.28 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 62.41 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 122.45 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 60,304 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0012 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Spain?
- R&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts in Spain was 295,290 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 295,290 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 35,496 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1980.
- How does Spain rank for r&d personnel and researchers by sector of performance, sex and nuts?
- Spain ranks 10th 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 Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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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