Researchers in R&D in South Africa

South Africa: Researchers in R&D was 444.16 per million people in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
444.16 per million people
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
76th
of 103 countries
All-time high
516.54 per million people
in 2017
All-time low
188.03 per million people
in 1997
Years of data
22
1997–2022

Researchers in R&D in South Africa, 1997–2022

02004006001997200920221997: 188 per million people2001: 299.5 per million people2003: 292.8 per million people2004: 367.5 per million people2005: 351.4 per million people2006: 373.4 per million people2007: 384.4 per million people2008: 381.6 per million people2009: 384.8 per million people2010: 359.8 per million people2011: 382 per million people2012: 401 per million people2013: 430.4 per million people2014: 427.6 per million people2015: 466.6 per million people2016: 482 per million people2017: 516.5 per million people2018: 500.8 per million people2019: 479.9 per million people2020: 460 per million people2021: 454.8 per million people2022: 444.2 per million people

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

Analysis

In 2022, researchers in r&d in South Africa stood at 444.16 per million people.

The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, researchers in r&d in South Africa peaked at 516.54 per million people in 2017 and was at its lowest, 188.03 per million people, in 1997.

That places South Africa 76th out of 103 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Researchers in R&D in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Researchers in R&D (per million people) in South Africa, 1997 to 2022.
Year per million people Change
1997 188.03 per million people
2001 299.48 per million people +59.3%
2003 292.81 per million people -2.2%
2004 367.55 per million people +25.5%
2005 351.39 per million people -4.4%
2006 373.41 per million people +6.3%
2007 384.42 per million people +2.9%
2008 381.59 per million people -0.7%
2009 384.85 per million people +0.9%
2010 359.81 per million people -6.5%
2011 381.97 per million people +6.2%
2012 400.95 per million people +5.0%
2013 430.45 per million people +7.4%
2014 427.64 per million people -0.7%
2015 466.56 per million people +9.1%
2016 482 per million people +3.3%
2017 516.54 per million people +7.2%
2018 500.79 per million people -3.0%
2019 479.87 per million people -4.2%
2020 459.99 per million people -4.1%
2021 454.8 per million people -1.1%
2022 444.16 per million people -2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 188.03 per million people 188.03 per million people 188.03 per million people 1
2000s 354.44 per million people 292.81 per million people 384.85 per million people 8
2010s 444.66 per million people 359.81 per million people 516.54 per million people 10
2020s 452.98 per million people 444.16 per million people 459.99 per million people 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 73 Costa Rica 507.76 per million people compare
  2. 74 Trinidad and Tobago 492.72 per million people compare
  3. 75 Pakistan 473.72 per million people compare
  4. 77 Mexico 438.25 per million people compare
  5. 78 Ecuador 400.26 per million people compare
  6. 79 Indonesia 395.34 per million people compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is researchers in r&d in South Africa?
Researchers in r&d in South Africa was 444.16 per million people in 2022, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest researchers in r&d recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 516.54 per million people in 2017.
What is the lowest researchers in r&d recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 188.03 per million people in 1997.
How does South Africa rank for researchers in r&d?
South Africa ranks 76th out of 103 countries with data for 2022.
Is researchers in r&d rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/researchers-in-r-and-d-per-million-people/south-africa/

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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.