R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita was 444.16 per million people in 2022. ▲ Rising
R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 1997–2022
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 South Africa is 444.16 per million people, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 516.54 per million people in 2017 and was at its lowest, 188.03 per million people, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 76th of 103 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
R&D researchers per million people vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 179.34 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 89.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 14,949 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- R&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 444.16 per million people in 2022, 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 516.54 per million people in 2017.
- What is the lowest r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 188.03 per million people in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 76th out of 103 countries with data for 2022.
- Is r&d researchers per million people vs. gdp per capita 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 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.