Researchers in R&D in India

India: Researchers in R&D was 259.26 per million people in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
259.26 per million people
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
82nd
of 103 countries
All-time high
259.26 per million people
in 2020
All-time low
110.63 per million people
in 2000
Years of data
8
1996–2020

Researchers in R&D in India, 1996–2020

01002003001996200820201996: 153.9 per million people1998: 116.5 per million people2000: 110.6 per million people2005: 135.1 per million people2010: 156.2 per million people2015: 214.3 per million people2018: 250 per million people2020: 259.3 per million people

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

Analysis

In 2020, researchers in r&d in India stood at 259.26 per million people. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 66.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, researchers in r&d in India peaked at 259.26 per million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 110.63 per million people, in 2000.

India ranks 82nd of 103 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Researchers in R&D in India, year by year

Annual values for Researchers in R&D (per million people) in India, 1996 to 2020.
Year per million people Change
1996 153.95 per million people
1998 116.49 per million people -24.3%
2000 110.63 per million people -5.0%
2005 135.15 per million people +22.2%
2010 156.19 per million people +15.6%
2015 214.35 per million people +37.2%
2018 250.01 per million people +16.6%
2020 259.26 per million people +3.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 135.22 per million people 116.49 per million people 153.95 per million people 2
2000s 122.89 per million people 110.63 per million people 135.15 per million people 2
2010s 206.85 per million people 156.19 per million people 250.01 per million people 3
2020s 259.26 per million people 259.26 per million people 259.26 per million people 1

Countries ranked near India

  1. 79 Indonesia 395.34 per million people compare
  2. 80 Kenya 384.02 per million people compare
  3. 81 Philippines 320.28 per million people compare
  4. 83 Panama 250.47 per million people compare
  5. 84 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 179.96 per million people compare
  6. 85 Iraq 164.28 per million people compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More science & technology data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is researchers in r&d in India?
Researchers in r&d in India was 259.26 per million people in 2020, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest researchers in r&d recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 259.26 per million people in 2020.
What is the lowest researchers in r&d recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 110.63 per million people in 2000.
How does India rank for researchers in r&d?
India ranks 82nd out of 103 countries with data for 2020.
Is researchers in r&d rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 66.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India 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 India. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/researchers-in-r-and-d-per-million-people/india/

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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.