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

Portugal: R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers was 51,877 Persons in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
51,877 Persons
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
13th
of 36 countries
All-time high
51,877 Persons
in 2023
All-time low
1,684 Persons
in 1995
Years of data
29
1995–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Portugal, 1995–2023

020.0k40.0k60.0k1995200920231995: 1.7k Persons1996: 2.0k Persons1997: 2.2k Persons1998: 2.8k Persons1999: 3.3k Persons2000: 4.0k Persons2001: 4.6k Persons2002: 5.4k Persons2003: 6.1k Persons2004: 6.1k Persons2005: 6.2k Persons2006: 10.3k Persons2007: 14.5k Persons2008: 18.2k Persons2009: 18.1k Persons2010: 19.2k Persons2011: 21.2k Persons2012: 21.5k Persons2013: 20.6k Persons2014: 21.6k Persons2015: 23.5k Persons2016: 26.3k Persons2017: 29.4k Persons2018: 32.4k Persons2019: 36.9k Persons2020: 42.2k Persons2021: 46.8k Persons2022: 49.6k Persons2023: 51.9k 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 Portugal stood at 51,877 Persons. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.

The figure is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 151.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Portugal peaked at 51,877 Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,684 Persons, in 1995.

That places Portugal 13th 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 Portugal, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance - Regions — Researchers in Portugal, 1995 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
1995 1,684 Persons
1996 1,959 Persons +16.3%
1997 2,233 Persons +14.0%
1998 2,781 Persons +24.5%
1999 3,328 Persons +19.7%
2000 3,977 Persons +19.5%
2001 4,625 Persons +16.3%
2002 5,364 Persons +16.0%
2003 6,102 Persons +13.8%
2004 6,144 Persons +0.7%
2005 6,186 Persons +0.7%
2006 10,322 Persons +66.9%
2007 14,457 Persons +40.1%
2008 18,206 Persons +25.9%
2009 18,126 Persons -0.4%
2010 19,235 Persons +6.1%
2011 21,191 Persons +10.2%
2012 21,471 Persons +1.3%
2013 20,621 Persons -4.0%
2014 21,646 Persons +5.0%
2015 23,498 Persons +8.6%
2016 26,332 Persons +12.1%
2017 29,410 Persons +11.7%
2018 32,411 Persons +10.2%
2019 36,855 Persons +13.7%
2020 42,154 Persons +14.4%
2021 46,817 Persons +11.1%
2022 49,578 Persons +5.9%
2023 51,877 Persons +4.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 2,397 Persons 1,684 Persons 3,328 Persons 5
2000s 9,351 Persons 3,977 Persons 18,206 Persons 10
2010s 25,267 Persons 19,235 Persons 36,855 Persons 10
2020s 47,606 Persons 42,154 Persons 51,877 Persons 4

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 10 Sweden 91,444 Persons compare
  2. 11 Spain 90,723 Persons compare
  3. 12 Belgium 70,218 Persons compare
  4. 14 Austria 49,922 Persons compare
  5. 15 Denmark 36,787 Persons compare
  6. 16 Finland 34,795 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More science & technology data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Portugal?
R&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers in Portugal was 51,877 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 Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 51,877 Persons in 2023.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 1,684 Persons in 1995.
How does Portugal rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers?
Portugal ranks 13th out of 36 countries with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance - regions — researchers rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 151.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Portugal 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 Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-regions-researchers/portugal/

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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