Researchers in R&D in World

World: Researchers in R&D was 1,652 per million people in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
1,652 per million people
Change on year
up 8.4%
Rank
13th
of 23 groups
All-time high
1,652 per million people
in 2020
All-time low
1,081 per million people
in 2000
Years of data
6
2000–2020

Researchers in R&D in World, 2000–2020

05001.0k1.5k2000201020202000: 1.1k per million people2005: 1.2k per million people2010: 1.3k per million people2015: 1.4k per million people2018: 1.5k per million people2020: 1.7k 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 World is 1,652 per million people, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.4% on the previous year and up 30.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, researchers in r&d in World peaked at 1,652 per million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1,081 per million people, in 2000.

World ranks 13th of 23 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Researchers in R&D in World, year by year

Annual values for Researchers in R&D (per million people) in World, 2000 to 2020.
Year per million people Change
2000 1,081 per million people
2005 1,195 per million people +10.6%
2010 1,267 per million people +6.0%
2015 1,381 per million people +9.0%
2018 1,524 per million people +10.4%
2020 1,652 per million people +8.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1,138 per million people 1,081 per million people 1,195 per million people 2
2010s 1,391 per million people 1,267 per million people 1,524 per million people 3
2020s 1,652 per million people 1,652 per million people 1,652 per million people 1

Countries ranked near World

  1. 10 Belgium 5,990 per million people compare
  2. 11 Portugal 5,983 per million people compare
  3. 12 Iceland 5,953 per million people compare
  4. 13 Germany 5,926 per million people compare
  5. 14 Hong Kong, China 5,874 per million people compare
  6. 15 Ireland 5,753 per million people compare
  7. 16 Canada 5,624 per million people compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More science & technology data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is researchers in r&d in World?
Researchers in r&d in World was 1,652 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 World?
The highest recorded value was 1,652 per million people in 2020.
What is the lowest researchers in r&d recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 1,081 per million people in 2000.
How does World rank for researchers in r&d?
World ranks 13th out of 23 groups with data for 2020.
Is researchers in r&d rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this World 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 World. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/researchers-in-r-and-d-per-million-people/world/

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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.