R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita in Iceland
Iceland: R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita was 5,953 per million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita in Iceland, 1996–2023
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per million people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita in Iceland is 5,953 per million people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 13.3% on the previous year and up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita in Iceland peaked at 7,999 per million people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 3,321 per million people, in 1996.
That places Iceland 12th out of 103 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita in Iceland, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 3,321 per million people | — |
| 1997 | 4,968 per million people | +49.6% |
| 1998 | 5,191 per million people | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 5,720 per million people | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 6,560 per million people | +14.7% |
| 2003 | 6,644 per million people | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 7,338 per million people | +10.4% |
| 2006 | 7,999 per million people | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 7,176 per million people | -10.3% |
| 2008 | 7,313 per million people | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 7,841 per million people | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 7,089 per million people | -9.6% |
| 2013 | 5,740 per million people | -19.0% |
| 2017 | 5,980 per million people | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 5,646 per million people | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 6,941 per million people | +22.9% |
| 2022 | 6,864 per million people | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 5,953 per million people | -13.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 5,953 per million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 per million people, 1.3× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 5,953 per million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,675 per million people, 1.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,800 per million people | 3,321 per million people | 5,720 per million people | 4 |
| 2000s | 7,267 per million people | 6,560 per million people | 7,999 per million people | 7 |
| 2010s | 6,113 per million people | 5,646 per million people | 7,089 per million people | 4 |
| 2020s | 6,586 per million people | 5,953 per million people | 6,941 per million people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More science & technology data for Iceland
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 120.93 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.23 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 475,724 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 4.67 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.4503 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 5 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 5 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita in Iceland?
- R&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita in Iceland was 5,953 per million people in 2023, according to UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 7,999 per million people in 2006.
- What is the lowest r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,321 per million people in 1996.
- How does Iceland rank for r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita?
- Iceland ranks 12th out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
- Is r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Professionals conceiving or creating new knowledge, products, processes, methods, or systems. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.