Number of R&D researchers per million people in Spain
Spain: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 3,654 per million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Spain, 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 Spain stood at 3,654 per million people. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.9% on the previous year and up 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in Spain peaked at 3,654 per million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,286 per million people, in 1996.
That places Spain 32nd out of 103 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Spain, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,286 per million people | — |
| 1997 | 1,336 per million people | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 1,487 per million people | +11.3% |
| 1999 | 1,512 per million people | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 1,874 per million people | +23.9% |
| 2001 | 1,947 per million people | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 2,014 per million people | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 2,195 per million people | +9.0% |
| 2004 | 2,356 per million people | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 2,516 per million people | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 2,613 per million people | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 2,720 per million people | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 2,850 per million people | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 2,877 per million people | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 2,880 per million people | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 2,775 per million people | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 2,693 per million people | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 2,624 per million people | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 2,614 per million people | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 2,623 per million people | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 2,713 per million people | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 2,847 per million people | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 2,984 per million people | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 3,048 per million people | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 3,052 per million people | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 3,230 per million people | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 3,388 per million people | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 3,654 per million people | +7.9% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 3,654 per million people is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 per million people, 79% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Spain's 3,654 per million people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,675 per million people, 99% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,405 per million people | 1,286 per million people | 1,512 per million people | 4 |
| 2000s | 2,396 per million people | 1,874 per million people | 2,877 per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,780 per million people | 2,614 per million people | 3,048 per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,331 per million people | 3,052 per million people | 3,654 per million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More science & technology data for Spain
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 130.26 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.28 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 62.41 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 122.45 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 134 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 134 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in Spain?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in Spain was 3,654 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 3,654 per million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,286 per million people in 1996.
- How does Spain rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Spain ranks 32nd out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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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