Number of R&D researchers per million people in Iceland
Iceland: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 5,953 per million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people 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
In 2023, number of r&d researchers per million people in Iceland stood at 5,953 per million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.3% on the previous year and up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in Iceland peaked at 7,999 per million people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 3,321 per million people, in 1996.
Iceland ranks 12th of 103 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Number of R&D researchers per million people 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 number of r&d researchers per million people in Iceland?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people 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 number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 7,999 per million people in 2006.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,321 per million people in 1996.
- How does Iceland rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Iceland ranks 12th out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people 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 Number of R&D researchers per million people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Professionals engaged in conceiving or creating new knowledge, products, processes, methods, or systems.