Researchers in R&D in China

China: Researchers in R&D was 2,107 per million people in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
2,107 per million people
Change on year
up 14.0%
World rank
45th
of 103 countries
All-time high
2,107 per million people
in 2023
All-time low
389.63 per million people
in 1998
Years of data
28
1996–2023

Researchers in R&D in China, 1996–2023

5001.0k1.5k2.0k1996200920231996: 447.1 per million people1997: 476.2 per million people1998: 389.6 per million people1999: 423 per million people2000: 549.6 per million people2001: 582.8 per million people2002: 631.7 per million people2003: 667.9 per million people2004: 713.4 per million people2005: 856.7 per million people2006: 931.2 per million people2007: 1.1k per million people2008: 1.2k per million people2009: 861.2 per million people2010: 898.9 per million people2011: 972 per million people2012: 1.0k per million people2013: 1.1k per million people2014: 1.1k per million people2015: 1.2k per million people2016: 1.2k per million people2017: 1.2k per million people2018: 1.3k per million people2019: 1.5k per million people2020: 1.6k per million people2021: 1.7k per million people2022: 1.8k per million people2023: 2.1k per million people

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in per million people.

Analysis

The most recent figure for researchers in r&d in China is 2,107 per million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

The figure is up 14.0% on the previous year and up 95.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, researchers in r&d in China peaked at 2,107 per million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 389.63 per million people, in 1998.

That places China 45th out of 103 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

Researchers in R&D in China, year by year

Annual values for Researchers in R&D (per million people) in China, 1996 to 2023.
Year per million people Change
1996 447.1 per million people
1997 476.21 per million people +6.5%
1998 389.63 per million people -18.2%
1999 422.98 per million people +8.6%
2000 549.58 per million people +29.9%
2001 582.79 per million people +6.0%
2002 631.74 per million people +8.4%
2003 667.93 per million people +5.7%
2004 713.43 per million people +6.8%
2005 856.66 per million people +20.1%
2006 931.2 per million people +8.7%
2007 1,077 per million people +15.6%
2008 1,198 per million people +11.2%
2009 861.25 per million people -28.1%
2010 898.86 per million people +4.4%
2011 972.02 per million people +8.1%
2012 1,029 per million people +5.9%
2013 1,080 per million people +4.9%
2014 1,102 per million people +2.1%
2015 1,163 per million people +5.5%
2016 1,209 per million people +4.0%
2017 1,236 per million people +2.2%
2018 1,317 per million people +6.6%
2019 1,484 per million people +12.6%
2020 1,600 per million people +7.8%
2021 1,686 per million people +5.4%
2022 1,849 per million people +9.7%
2023 2,107 per million people +14.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 433.98 per million people 389.63 per million people 476.21 per million people 4
2000s 806.89 per million people 549.58 per million people 1,198 per million people 10
2010s 1,149 per million people 898.86 per million people 1,484 per million people 10
2020s 1,811 per million people 1,600 per million people 2,107 per million people 4

Countries ranked near China

  1. 42 Iran, Islamic Republic of 2,240 per million people compare
  2. 43 Latvia 2,191 per million people compare
  3. 44 Cuba 2,171 per million people compare
  4. 46 Georgia 1,896 per million people compare
  5. 47 Cyprus 1,686 per million people compare
  6. 48 Tunisia 1,668 per million people compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More science & technology data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is researchers in r&d in China?
Researchers in r&d in China was 2,107 per million people in 2023, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest researchers in r&d recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 2,107 per million people in 2023.
What is the lowest researchers in r&d recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 389.63 per million people in 1998.
How does China rank for researchers in r&d?
China ranks 45th out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
Is researchers in r&d rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 95.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Researchers in R&D (per million people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Researchers in R&D in China. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/researchers-in-r-and-d-per-million-people/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Researchers in R&D (per million people)
Unit
per million people
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
128 places, 2,361 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

The number of researchers engaged in Research &Development (R&D), expressed as per million. Researchers are professionals who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models techniques instrumentation, software of operational methods. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.