R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea: R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex was 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
5th
of 50 countries
All-time high
610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2023
All-time low
128,669 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1998
Years of data
29
1995–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in Republic of Korea, 1995–2023

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k600.0k1995200920231995: 152.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1996: 135.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1997: 136.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1998: 128.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)1999: 137.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2000: 138.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2001: 165.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2002: 172.3k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2003: 186.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2004: 194.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2005: 215.3k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2006: 237.6k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2007: 269.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2008: 294.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2009: 309.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2010: 335.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2011: 361.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2012: 396.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2013: 401.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2014: 430.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2015: 442.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2016: 447.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2017: 471.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2018: 501.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2019: 525.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2020: 545.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2021: 577.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2022: 602.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2023: 610.8k Full-time equivalent (FTE)

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

Analysis

Republic of Korea recorded 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) for r&d personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in 2023. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.

The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 52.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in Republic of Korea peaked at 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023 and was at its lowest, 128,669 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1998.

That places Republic of Korea 5th out of 50 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.

R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in Republic of Korea, 1995 to 2023.
Year Full-time equivalent (FTE) Change
1995 152,247 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
1996 135,703 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -10.9%
1997 136,559 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +0.6%
1998 128,669 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -5.8%
1999 137,874 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.2%
2000 138,077 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +0.1%
2001 165,715 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +20.0%
2002 172,270 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.0%
2003 186,215 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +8.1%
2004 194,054 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.2%
2005 215,345 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +11.0%
2006 237,600 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +10.3%
2007 269,409 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +13.4%
2008 294,440 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +9.3%
2009 309,063 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.0%
2010 335,228 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +8.5%
2011 361,374 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.8%
2012 395,990 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +9.6%
2013 401,444 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +1.4%
2014 430,868 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +7.3%
2015 442,027 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +2.6%
2016 447,408 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +1.2%
2017 471,201 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.3%
2018 501,174 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +6.4%
2019 525,675 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.9%
2020 545,435 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +3.8%
2021 577,099 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.8%
2022 602,196 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +4.3%
2023 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 138,210 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 128,669 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 152,247 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 5
2000s 218,219 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 138,077 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 309,063 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 10
2010s 431,239 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 335,228 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 525,675 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 10
2020s 583,888 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 545,435 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 4

Countries ranked near Republic of Korea

  1. 2 Germany 839,700 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  2. 3 Russian Federation 753,796 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  3. 3 Russia 753,796 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  4. 5 South Korea 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  5. 7 France 520,816 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  6. 8 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 486,088 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  7. 8 United Kingdom 486,088 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare

See the full ranking of 54 places →

More science & technology data for Republic of Korea

All data for Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in Republic of Korea?
R&d personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in Republic of Korea was 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest r&d personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex recorded in Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 610,824 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex recorded in Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 128,669 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1998.
How does Republic of Korea rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex?
Republic of Korea ranks 5th out of 50 countries with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 52.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex in Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-professional-position-and-sex/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel by sector of performance, professional position and sex
Unit
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
54 places, 1,706 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed