Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex by country
Countries reporting
50
Highest
989,223 Head count
Japan
Lowest
1,586 Head count
Montenegro
Median
69,442 Head count
Years covered
45
1980–2024
Data points
1,242
What the numbers show
Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex is currently reported for 50 countries. The highest value is 989,223 Head count in Japan; the lowest is 1,586 Head count in Montenegro.
The median across all reporting countries is 69,442 Head count, and the mean is 163,325 Head count.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 624.
Over the past decade 48 countries rose and 2 fell. The largest increase was in Bosnia and Herzegovina (up 141.3%), and the largest decrease in Russian Federation (down 5.7%).
Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 989,223 Head count | 2023 | up 10.8% | rising |
| 2 | Germany | 742,803 Head count | 2023 | up 35.2% | rising |
| 3 | Korea | 603,566 Head count | 2023 | up 47.1% | rising |
| 3 | 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 535,477 Head count | 2018 | up 42.0% | rising |
| 7 | France | 483,383 Head count | 2023 | up 32.0% | rising |
| 8 | Russian Federation | 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 | 276,018 Head count | 2023 | up 32.2% | rising |
| 12 | Italy | 229,079 Head count | 2023 | up 39.7% | rising |
| 13 | Poland | 224,934 Head count | 2023 | up 105.2% | rising |
| 13 | Poland | 224,934 Head count | 2023 | up 105.2% | rising |
| 15 | Netherlands | 157,331 Head count | 2023 | up 34.9% | rising |
| 15 | 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 | Greece | 89,396 Head count | 2023 | up 66.3% | rising |
| 22 | Switzerland | 86,486 Head count | 2023 | up 43.5% | rising |
| 23 | Denmark | 73,396 Head count | 2023 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 24 | Czechia | 70,371 Head count | 2024 | up 29.1% | rising |
| 25 | Norway | 69,866 Head count | 2023 | up 46.2% | rising |
| 26 | Finland | 69,017 Head count | 2023 | up 21.7% | rising |
| 27 | Hungary | 67,009 Head count | 2023 | up 77.3% | rising |
| 28 | Ireland | 43,645 Head count | 2023 | up 36.0% | rising |
| 29 | Slovakia | 32,274 Head count | 2023 | up 32.0% | rising |
| 29 | Slovakia | 32,274 Head count | 2023 | up 32.0% | rising |
| 31 | Romania | 31,182 Head count | 2023 | up 13.0% | falling |
| 32 | Bulgaria | 23,489 Head count | 2023 | up 45.9% | volatile |
| 33 | Serbia | 19,323 Head count | 2024 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 34 | Lithuania | 19,190 Head count | 2023 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 34 | Lithuania | 19,190 Head count | 2023 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 36 | Slovenia | 17,587 Head count | 2023 | up 45.2% | rising |
| 36 | Slovenia | 17,587 Head count | 2023 | up 45.2% | rising |
| 38 | Croatia | 17,013 Head count | 2023 | up 52.3% | rising |
| 38 | Croatia | 17,013 Head count | 2023 | up 52.3% | rising |
| 40 | Estonia | 10,363 Head count | 2023 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 40 | Estonia | 10,363 Head count | 2023 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 42 | Latvia | 8,625 Head count | 2023 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 42 | Latvia | 8,625 Head count | 2023 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 44 | Iceland | 4,702 Head count | 2023 | up 40.1% | rising |
| 45 | Luxembourg | 4,186 Head count | 2023 | up 54.3% | rising |
| 46 | Cyprus | 3,072 Head count | 2023 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 47 | North Macedonia | 2,798 Head count | 2022 | up 25.4% | rising |
| 48 | Malta | 2,023 Head count | 2023 | up 46.3% | rising |
| 49 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,928 Head count | 2021 | up 141.3% | rising |
| 50 | Montenegro | 1,586 Head count | 2019 | up 2.6% | flat |
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