Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain

Spain: Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex was 276,018 Head count in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
276,018 Head count
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
11th
of 50 countries
All-time high
276,018 Head count
in 2023
All-time low
40,848 Head count
in 1985
Years of data
34
1985–2023

Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain, 1985–2023

50.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k300.0k1985200420231985: 40.8k Head count1986: 45.3k Head count1987: 49.0k Head count1988: 56.3k Head count1989: 59.6k Head count1992: 77.4k Head count1993: 80.1k Head count1994: 70.5k Head count1995: 100.1k Head count1997: 103.9k Head count1999: 116.6k Head count2001: 140.4k Head count2002: 150.1k Head count2003: 158.6k Head count2004: 170.0k Head count2005: 181.0k Head count2006: 193.0k Head count2007: 206.2k Head count2008: 217.7k Head count2009: 221.3k Head count2010: 224.0k Head count2011: 220.3k Head count2012: 215.5k Head count2013: 208.8k Head count2014: 210.1k Head count2015: 214.2k Head count2016: 218.7k Head count2017: 226.0k Head count2018: 234.8k Head count2019: 241.4k Head count2020: 244.2k Head count2021: 255.4k Head count2022: 267.4k Head count2023: 276.0k Head count

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Head count.

Analysis

In 2023, researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain stood at 276,018 Head count. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 32.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain peaked at 276,018 Head count in 2023 and was at its lowest, 40,848 Head count, in 1985.

That places Spain 11th out of 50 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain, year by year

Annual values for Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain, 1985 to 2023.
Year Head count Change
1985 40,848 Head count
1986 45,255 Head count +10.8%
1987 49,007 Head count +8.3%
1988 56,261 Head count +14.8%
1989 59,592 Head count +5.9%
1992 77,430 Head count +29.9%
1993 80,113 Head count +3.5%
1994 70,508 Head count -12.0%
1995 100,070 Head count +41.9%
1997 103,905 Head count +3.8%
1999 116,595 Head count +12.2%
2001 140,407 Head count +20.4%
2002 150,098 Head count +6.9%
2003 158,566 Head count +5.6%
2004 169,971 Head count +7.2%
2005 181,023 Head count +6.5%
2006 193,024 Head count +6.6%
2007 206,190 Head count +6.8%
2008 217,716 Head count +5.6%
2009 221,314 Head count +1.7%
2010 224,000 Head count +1.2%
2011 220,254 Head count -1.7%
2012 215,544 Head count -2.1%
2013 208,767 Head count -3.1%
2014 210,104 Head count +0.6%
2015 214,227 Head count +2.0%
2016 218,680 Head count +2.1%
2017 225,995 Head count +3.3%
2018 234,798 Head count +3.9%
2019 241,372 Head count +2.8%
2020 244,187 Head count +1.2%
2021 255,385 Head count +4.6%
2022 267,409 Head count +4.7%
2023 276,018 Head count +3.2%

Spain compared with similar countries

  • Spain's 276,018 Head count is above the median for high income countries, which is 71,884 Head count, 3.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Spain's 276,018 Head count is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69,017 Head count, 4.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1995 +41.9% 70,508 Head count 100,070 Head count
1992 +29.9% 59,592 Head count 77,430 Head count

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 50,193 Head count 40,848 Head count 59,592 Head count 5
1990s 91,437 Head count 70,508 Head count 116,595 Head count 6
2000s 182,034 Head count 140,407 Head count 221,314 Head count 9
2010s 221,374 Head count 208,767 Head count 241,372 Head count 10
2020s 260,750 Head count 244,187 Head count 276,018 Head count 4

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 8 Russian Federation 348,221 Head count compare
  2. 8 Russia 348,221 Head count compare
  3. 10 Türkiye 344,650 Head count compare
  4. 12 Italy 229,079 Head count compare
  5. 13 Poland 224,934 Head count compare
  6. 13 Poland 224,934 Head count compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More science & technology data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain?
Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain was 276,018 Head count in 2023, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex recorded in Spain?
The highest recorded value was 276,018 Head count in 2023.
What is the lowest researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 40,848 Head count in 1985.
How does Spain rank for researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex?
Spain ranks 11th out of 50 countries with data for 2023.
Is researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 32.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Spain data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex in Spain. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/researchers-by-sector-of-performance-country-of-citizenship-and-sex/spain/

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About this data

Indicator
Researchers by sector of performance, country of citizenship and sex
Unit
Head count
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
53 places, 1,242 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed