R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Belgium

Belgium: R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers was 70,218 Persons in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
70,218 Persons
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
12th
of 36 countries
All-time high
70,218 Persons
in 2023
All-time low
17,954 Persons
in 1998
Years of data
20
1998–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Belgium, 1998–2023

20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k1998201020231998: 18.0k Persons1999: 19.1k Persons2000: 19.7k Persons2001: 20.9k Persons2002: 19.5k Persons2003: 19.7k Persons2004: 19.4k Persons2005: 19.9k Persons2006: 19.6k Persons2007: 20.3k Persons2008: 21.9k Persons2009: 21.9k Persons2010: 25.5k Persons2011: 28.3k Persons2013: 30.4k Persons2015: 36.9k Persons2017: 40.9k Persons2019: 49.8k Persons2021: 67.9k Persons2023: 70.2k Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 70,218 Persons for r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in 2023. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.

The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 131.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Belgium peaked at 70,218 Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 17,954 Persons, in 1998.

That places Belgium 12th out of 36 countries with data for 2023, 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 by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Belgium, 1998 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
1998 17,954 Persons
1999 19,066 Persons +6.2%
2000 19,700 Persons +3.3%
2001 20,850 Persons +5.8%
2002 19,483 Persons -6.6%
2003 19,729 Persons +1.3%
2004 19,428 Persons -1.5%
2005 19,927 Persons +2.6%
2006 19,585 Persons -1.7%
2007 20,342 Persons +3.9%
2008 21,877 Persons +7.5%
2009 21,942 Persons +0.3%
2010 25,451 Persons +16.0%
2011 28,325 Persons +11.3%
2013 30,374 Persons +7.2%
2015 36,947 Persons +21.6%
2017 40,853 Persons +10.6%
2019 49,837 Persons +22.0%
2021 67,878 Persons +36.2%
2023 70,218 Persons +3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 18,510 Persons 17,954 Persons 19,066 Persons 2
2000s 20,286 Persons 19,428 Persons 21,942 Persons 10
2010s 35,298 Persons 25,451 Persons 49,837 Persons 6
2020s 69,048 Persons 67,878 Persons 70,218 Persons 2

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 9 Italy 92,980 Persons compare
  2. 10 Sweden 91,444 Persons compare
  3. 11 Spain 90,723 Persons compare
  4. 13 Portugal 51,877 Persons compare
  5. 14 Austria 49,922 Persons compare
  6. 15 Denmark 36,787 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More science & technology data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Belgium?
R&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Belgium was 70,218 Persons in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 70,218 Persons in 2023.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 17,954 Persons in 1998.
How does Belgium rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers?
Belgium ranks 12th out of 36 countries with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is up 131.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-regions-researchers/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
42 places, 897 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

This table contains research and development (R&D) personnel statistics in large (TL2) regions. Indicators covered Number of R&D personnel is provided in both headcounts and full-time equivalent on R&D by sex, sector of performance (business enterprise, government, higher education, and private non-profit). Definition of regions Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). TL3 regions are grouped into typologies based on shared characteristics. See the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xls) and the OECD Territorial grid (pdf). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats Further information Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development Frascati Manual 2015 The interactive web-tool OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas The report OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For any question or comment, please write to RegionStat@oecd.org