Number of R&D researchers per million people in South Africa
South Africa: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 444.16 per million people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people 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
South Africa recorded 444.16 per million people for number of r&d researchers per million people in 2022.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in South Africa peaked at 516.54 per million people in 2017 and was at its lowest, 188.03 per million people, in 1997.
That places South Africa 76th out of 103 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of R&D researchers per million people 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 number of r&d researchers per million people in South Africa?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people 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 number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 516.54 per million people in 2017.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 188.03 per million people in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- South Africa ranks 76th out of 103 countries with data for 2022.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people 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 Number of R&D researchers per million people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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Professionals engaged in conceiving or creating new knowledge, products, processes, methods, or systems.