Researchers by sector of performance, age class and sex by country
Countries reporting
52
Highest
1.00 million Head count
Japan
Lowest
954 Head count
Montenegro
Median
67,864 Head count
Years covered
45
1980–2024
Data points
1,295
What the numbers show
Researchers by sector of performance, age class and sex is currently reported for 52 countries. The highest value is 1.00 million Head count in Japan; the lowest is 954 Head count in Montenegro.
The median across all reporting countries is 67,864 Head count, and the mean is 158,854 Head count.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 1,051.
Over the past decade 49 countries rose and 3 fell. The largest increase was in Bosnia and Herzegovina (up 141.3%), and the largest decrease in Montenegro (down 44.1%).
Researchers by sector of performance, age class and sex: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 1.00 million Head count | 2024 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 2 | Germany | 742,803 Head count | 2023 | up 35.2% | rising |
| 3 | South Korea | 615,063 Head count | 2024 | up 40.6% | rising |
| 4 | South Korea | 603,566 Head count | 2023 | up 47.1% | rising |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 535,477 Head count | 2018 | up 42.0% | rising |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 535,477 Head count | 2018 | up 42.0% | rising |
| 7 | France | 504,952 Head count | 2024 | up 36.5% | rising |
| 8 | Russia | 348,221 Head count | 2019 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 8 | Russia | 348,221 Head count | 2019 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 10 | Türkiye | 344,650 Head count | 2024 | up 89.8% | volatile |
| 11 | Spain | 289,907 Head count | 2024 | up 38.0% | rising |
| 12 | Italy | 237,529 Head count | 2024 | up 41.3% | rising |
| 13 | Poland | 224,934 Head count | 2023 | up 105.2% | rising |
| 14 | Poland | 221,139 Head count | 2024 | up 91.7% | rising |
| 15 | Netherlands | 162,834 Head count | 2024 | up 38.5% | rising |
| 16 | Netherlands | 157,331 Head count | 2023 | up 34.9% | rising |
| 17 | Sweden | 143,042 Head count | 2023 | up 40.5% | rising |
| 18 | Portugal | 125,348 Head count | 2024 | up 59.2% | volatile |
| 19 | Belgium | 118,083 Head count | 2023 | up 77.0% | rising |
| 20 | Austria | 101,998 Head count | 2023 | up 42.8% | rising |
| 21 | Switzerland | 86,486 Head count | 2023 | up 43.5% | rising |
| 22 | Greece | 84,523 Head count | 2024 | up 57.3% | rising |
| 23 | Denmark | 73,396 Head count | 2023 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 24 | Finland | 71,449 Head count | 2024 | up 28.7% | rising |
| 25 | Czechia | 70,204 Head count | 2024 | up 28.8% | rising |
| 26 | Hungary | 68,042 Head count | 2024 | up 73.6% | rising |
| 27 | Norway | 67,687 Head count | 2024 | up 35.3% | rising |
| 28 | Ireland | 43,645 Head count | 2023 | up 36.0% | rising |
| 29 | Slovakia | 33,000 Head count | 2024 | up 31.6% | rising |
| 30 | Slovakia | 32,274 Head count | 2023 | up 32.0% | rising |
| 31 | Romania | 32,163 Head count | 2024 | up 16.8% | falling |
| 32 | Bulgaria | 25,103 Head count | 2024 | up 41.1% | volatile |
| 33 | Lithuania | 19,432 Head count | 2024 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 34 | Serbia | 19,323 Head count | 2024 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 34 | Serbia | 19,323 Head count | 2024 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 36 | Lithuania | 19,190 Head count | 2023 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 37 | Slovenia | 17,734 Head count | 2024 | up 45.9% | rising |
| 38 | Slovenia | 17,587 Head count | 2023 | up 45.2% | rising |
| 39 | Croatia | 17,138 Head count | 2024 | up 59.8% | rising |
| 40 | Croatia | 17,013 Head count | 2023 | up 52.3% | rising |
| 41 | Estonia | 11,480 Head count | 2024 | up 48.7% | rising |
| 42 | Estonia | 10,363 Head count | 2023 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 43 | Latvia | 8,871 Head count | 2024 | up 11.7% | rising |
| 44 | Latvia | 8,625 Head count | 2023 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 45 | Iceland | 4,702 Head count | 2023 | up 40.1% | rising |
| 46 | Luxembourg | 4,186 Head count | 2023 | up 54.3% | rising |
| 47 | Cyprus | 3,072 Head count | 2023 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 48 | North Macedonia | 2,798 Head count | 2022 | up 25.4% | rising |
| 48 | North Macedonia | 2,798 Head count | 2022 | up 25.4% | rising |
| 50 | Malta | 2,251 Head count | 2024 | up 66.9% | rising |
| 51 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,928 Head count | 2021 | up 141.3% | rising |
| 52 | Montenegro | 954 Head count | 2024 | down 44.1% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 3.18 million Head count
- Euro area – 21 countries (from 2026) 2.57 million Head count
- Euro area – 20 countries (2023-2025) 2.54 million Head count