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

Korea: R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers was 438,674 Persons in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
438,674 Persons
Change on year
down 1.0%
Rank
1st
of 2 groups
All-time high
443,270 Persons
in 2022
All-time low
66,018 Persons
in 1998
Years of data
27
1997–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Korea, 1997–2023

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1997201020231997: 74.7k Persons1998: 66.0k Persons1999: 70.4k Persons2000: 94.3k Persons2001: 111.3k Persons2002: 118.2k Persons2003: 124.0k Persons2004: 134.3k Persons2005: 154.3k Persons2006: 173.9k Persons2007: 185.6k Persons2008: 197.0k Persons2009: 210.3k Persons2010: 226.2k Persons2011: 250.6k Persons2012: 276.0k Persons2013: 281.9k Persons2014: 304.8k Persons2015: 317.8k Persons2016: 321.3k Persons2017: 343.4k Persons2018: 368.2k Persons2019: 387.4k Persons2020: 401.1k Persons2021: 429.5k Persons2022: 443.3k Persons2023: 438.7k Persons

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

Analysis

In 2023, r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Korea stood at 438,674 Persons.

The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 55.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Korea peaked at 443,270 Persons in 2022 and was at its lowest, 66,018 Persons, in 1998.

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 Korea, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Korea, 1997 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
1997 74,665 Persons
1998 66,018 Persons -11.6%
1999 70,431 Persons +6.7%
2000 94,333 Persons +33.9%
2001 111,299 Persons +18.0%
2002 118,160 Persons +6.2%
2003 124,030 Persons +5.0%
2004 134,300 Persons +8.3%
2005 154,306 Persons +14.9%
2006 173,904 Persons +12.7%
2007 185,633 Persons +6.7%
2008 197,023 Persons +6.1%
2009 210,303 Persons +6.7%
2010 226,168 Persons +7.5%
2011 250,626 Persons +10.8%
2012 275,986 Persons +10.1%
2013 281,874 Persons +2.1%
2014 304,808 Persons +8.1%
2015 317,842 Persons +4.3%
2016 321,323 Persons +1.1%
2017 343,367 Persons +6.9%
2018 368,237 Persons +7.2%
2019 387,448 Persons +5.2%
2020 401,116 Persons +3.5%
2021 429,465 Persons +7.1%
2022 443,270 Persons +3.2%
2023 438,674 Persons -1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 70,371 Persons 66,018 Persons 74,665 Persons 3
2000s 150,329 Persons 94,333 Persons 210,303 Persons 10
2010s 307,768 Persons 226,168 Persons 387,448 Persons 10
2020s 428,131 Persons 401,116 Persons 443,270 Persons 4

Countries ranked near Korea

  1. 1 United States of America 1.47 million Persons compare
  2. 2 Japan 599,860 Persons compare
  3. 3 Germany 359,321 Persons compare
  4. 4 France 300,285 Persons compare
  5. 4 Türkiye 158,816 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More science & technology data for Korea

All data for Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Korea?
R&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Korea was 438,674 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 Korea?
The highest recorded value was 443,270 Persons in 2022.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers recorded in Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 66,018 Persons in 1998.
How does Korea rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers?
Korea ranks 1st out of 2 groups with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers rising or falling in Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 55.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Korea 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 Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-regions-researchers/korea/

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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