Number of R&D researchers per million people in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 94.49 per million people in 2022. ▼ Falling
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Sri Lanka, 1996–2022
Source: UNESCO UIS Stat Bulk Data Download Service, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per million people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of r&d researchers per million people in Sri Lanka is 94.49 per million people, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in Sri Lanka peaked at 194.43 per million people in 1996 and was at its lowest, 90.38 per million people, in 2006.
That places Sri Lanka 90th out of 103 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 194.43 per million people | — |
| 2000 | 132.71 per million people | -31.7% |
| 2004 | 133.79 per million people | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 90.38 per million people | -32.4% |
| 2008 | 95.91 per million people | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 102.81 per million people | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 107.04 per million people | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 95.88 per million people | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 102.4 per million people | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 102.94 per million people | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 102.17 per million people | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 101.11 per million people | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 100.81 per million people | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 94.49 per million people | -6.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 94.49 per million people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 758.01 per million people, 12% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 194.43 per million people | 194.43 per million people | 194.43 per million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 113.19 per million people | 90.38 per million people | 133.79 per million people | 4 |
| 2010s | 102.05 per million people | 95.88 per million people | 107.04 per million people | 7 |
| 2020s | 97.65 per million people | 94.49 per million people | 100.81 per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More science & technology data for Sri Lanka
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 132.55 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.4 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 30.62 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 528.35 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -6.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -6.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 181 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 181 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in Sri Lanka?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in Sri Lanka was 94.49 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 194.43 per million people in 1996.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.38 per million people in 2006.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Sri Lanka ranks 90th out of 103 countries with data for 2022.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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