Number of R&D researchers per million people in Switzerland
Switzerland: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 6,108 per million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland stood at 6,108 per million people. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in Switzerland peaked at 6,108 per million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3,130 per million people, in 1996.
Switzerland ranks 9th of 103 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 3,130 per million people | — |
| 2000 | 3,644 per million people | +16.4% |
| 2004 | 3,452 per million people | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 3,314 per million people | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 4,497 per million people | +35.7% |
| 2015 | 5,311 per million people | +18.1% |
| 2017 | 5,258 per million people | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 5,562 per million people | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 6,003 per million people | +7.9% |
| 2023 | 6,108 per million people | +1.7% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 6,108 per million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 per million people, 1.3× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 6,108 per million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,675 per million people, 1.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,130 per million people | 3,130 per million people | 3,130 per million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 3,470 per million people | 3,314 per million people | 3,644 per million people | 3 |
| 2010s | 5,157 per million people | 4,497 per million people | 5,562 per million people | 4 |
| 2020s | 6,056 per million people | 6,003 per million people | 6,108 per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More science & technology data for Switzerland
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 129.47 (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 11.55 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 292.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.5767 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 271 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 271 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in Switzerland?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in Switzerland was 6,108 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 6,108 per million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,130 per million people in 1996.
- How does Switzerland rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Switzerland ranks 9th out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.