Number of R&D researchers per million people in India
India: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 259.26 per million people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people in India, 1996–2020
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 number of r&d researchers per million people in India is 259.26 per million people, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 66.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in India peaked at 259.26 per million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 110.63 per million people, in 2000.
India ranks 82nd of 103 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Number of R&D researchers per million people in India, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 153.95 per million people | — |
| 1998 | 116.49 per million people | -24.3% |
| 2000 | 110.63 per million people | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 135.15 per million people | +22.2% |
| 2010 | 156.19 per million people | +15.6% |
| 2015 | 214.35 per million people | +37.2% |
| 2018 | 250.01 per million people | +16.6% |
| 2020 | 259.26 per million people | +3.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 259.26 per million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 321.64 per million people, 81% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 135.22 per million people | 116.49 per million people | 153.95 per million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 122.89 per million people | 110.63 per million people | 135.15 per million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 206.85 per million people | 156.19 per million people | 250.01 per million people | 3 |
| 2020s | 259.26 per million people | 259.26 per million people | 259.26 per million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More science & technology data for India
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 79.35 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.7935 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 1.15 billion (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 389.67 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -1.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.6206 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 41,940 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 41,940 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in India?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in India was 259.26 per million people in 2020, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 259.26 per million people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 110.63 per million people in 2000.
- How does India rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- India ranks 82nd out of 103 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Professionals engaged in conceiving or creating new knowledge, products, processes, methods, or systems.