Number of R&D researchers per million people in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 1,235 per million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Saudi Arabia, 2020–2024
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 2024, number of r&d researchers per million people in Saudi Arabia stood at 1,235 per million people. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.2% on the previous year and up 141.1% over five years.
Saudi Arabia ranks 53rd of 103 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 512.06 per million people | — |
| 2021 | 794.3 per million people | +55.1% |
| 2022 | 958.19 per million people | +20.6% |
| 2023 | 1,121 per million people | +17.0% |
| 2024 | 1,235 per million people | +10.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 1,235 per million people is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 per million people, 27% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 1,235 per million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,102 per million people, 1.1× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More science & technology data for Saudi Arabia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 159.54 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.53 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 54.18 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 24.41 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 4,921 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 4,921 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in Saudi Arabia?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in Saudi Arabia was 1,235 per million people in 2024, 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,235 per million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 512.06 per million people in 2020.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 53rd out of 103 countries with data for 2024.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.