R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex by country
Countries reporting
52
Highest
911,620 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Japan
Lowest
945.7 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Montenegro
Median
55,916 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Years covered
45
1980–2024
Data points
1,732
What the numbers show
R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex is currently reported for 52 countries. The highest value is 911,620 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in Japan; the lowest is 945.7 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in Montenegro.
The median across all reporting countries is 55,916 Full-time equivalent (FTE), and the mean is 172,460 Full-time equivalent (FTE).
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 964.
Over the past decade 50 countries rose and 2 fell. The largest increase was in Türkiye (up 168.9%), and the largest decrease in Russia (down 10.9%).
R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 911,620 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2020 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 2 | Germany | 838,688 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 38.6% | rising |
| 3 | Russia | 753,796 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | down 10.9% | falling |
| 3 | Russia | 753,796 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | down 10.9% | falling |
| 5 | South Korea | 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 52.2% | rising |
| 6 | South Korea | 545,435 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2020 | up 62.7% | rising |
| 7 | France | 529,190 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 26.9% | rising |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 486,088 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | up 39.9% | rising |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 486,088 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | up 39.9% | rising |
| 10 | Italy | 352,333 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 41.2% | rising |
| 11 | Türkiye | 310,472 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 168.9% | volatile |
| 12 | Spain | 295,362 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 47.5% | volatile |
| 13 | Poland | 198,219 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 89.9% | rising |
| 13 | Poland | 198,219 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 89.9% | rising |
| 15 | Netherlands | 198,165 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 45.5% | rising |
| 16 | Netherlands | 197,169 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 44.8% | rising |
| 17 | Sweden | 123,074 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 47.4% | rising |
| 18 | Belgium | 121,647 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 67.1% | rising |
| 19 | Switzerland | 96,712 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 28.1% | rising |
| 20 | Austria | 96,508 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 37.6% | rising |
| 21 | Czechia | 86,932 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 34.9% | rising |
| 22 | Portugal | 84,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 79.2% | volatile |
| 23 | Denmark | 73,380 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 25.7% | rising |
| 24 | Greece | 69,124 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 59.6% | rising |
| 25 | Finland | 62,431 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 19.8% | rising |
| 26 | Hungary | 59,464 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 59.3% | rising |
| 27 | Norway | 52,368 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 28 | Ireland | 45,254 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 35.1% | volatile |
| 29 | Romania | 36,828 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 17.3% | falling |
| 30 | Serbia | 28,333 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 45.7% | rising |
| 30 | Serbia | 28,333 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 45.7% | rising |
| 32 | Bulgaria | 26,472 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 36.9% | rising |
| 33 | Slovakia | 25,641 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 45.7% | rising |
| 33 | Slovakia | 25,641 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 45.7% | rising |
| 35 | Slovenia | 18,232 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 22.6% | rising |
| 36 | Slovenia | 18,133 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 22.0% | rising |
| 37 | Croatia | 16,967 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 69.2% | rising |
| 38 | Croatia | 16,550 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 65.1% | rising |
| 39 | Lithuania | 15,932 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 35.1% | rising |
| 40 | Lithuania | 15,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 41 | Estonia | 9,845 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 70.0% | rising |
| 41 | Estonia | 9,845 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 70.0% | rising |
| 43 | Latvia | 7,152 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 24.6% | rising |
| 44 | Latvia | 6,990 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 21.8% | rising |
| 45 | Luxembourg | 6,185 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 19.1% | rising |
| 46 | Iceland | 4,226 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 54.4% | rising |
| 47 | North Macedonia | 3,812 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 143.9% | rising |
| 47 | North Macedonia | 3,812 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 143.9% | rising |
| 49 | Malta | 2,423 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 67.8% | rising |
| 50 | Cyprus | 2,334 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 81.8% | rising |
| 51 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,928 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2021 | up 81.8% | rising |
| 52 | Montenegro | 945.7 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 57.7% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- China except Hong Kong 5.23 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 3.40 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- Euro area – 21 countries (from 2026) 2.82 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- Euro area – 20 countries (2023-2025) 2.80 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)