Number of R&D researchers per million people in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 507.76 per million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Costa Rica, 2003–2023
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per million people.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 507.76 per million people for number of r&d researchers per million people in 2023.
The figure is up 9.8% on the previous year and up 41.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in Costa Rica peaked at 574.92 per million people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 110.08 per million people, in 2004.
Costa Rica ranks 73rd of 103 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 133.41 per million people | — |
| 2004 | 110.08 per million people | -17.5% |
| 2005 | 124.53 per million people | +13.1% |
| 2008 | 264.18 per million people | +112.1% |
| 2009 | 343.38 per million people | +30.0% |
| 2010 | 385.93 per million people | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 410.69 per million people | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 340.94 per million people | -17.0% |
| 2013 | 359 per million people | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 574.92 per million people | +60.1% |
| 2015 | 500.97 per million people | -12.9% |
| 2016 | 531.45 per million people | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 385.02 per million people | -27.6% |
| 2018 | 349.49 per million people | -9.2% |
| 2020 | 371.97 per million people | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 406.58 per million people | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 462.47 per million people | +13.7% |
| 2023 | 507.76 per million people | +9.8% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 507.76 per million people is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 per million people, 11% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 507.76 per million people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 419.25 per million people, 1.2× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of R&D researchers per million people in Costa Rica changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +112.1% | 124.53 per million people | 264.18 per million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 195.11 per million people | 110.08 per million people | 343.38 per million people | 5 |
| 2010s | 426.49 per million people | 340.94 per million people | 574.92 per million people | 9 |
| 2020s | 437.2 per million people | 371.97 per million people | 507.76 per million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More science & technology data for Costa Rica
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 136.03 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.36 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 6.98 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 133.51 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 438 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 438 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in Costa Rica?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in Costa Rica was 507.76 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 number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 574.92 per million people in 2014.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 110.08 per million people in 2004.
- How does Costa Rica rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Costa Rica ranks 73rd out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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 Number of R&D researchers per million people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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