Number of R&D researchers per million people in Thailand
Thailand: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 1,592 per million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1,592 per million people
Change on year
down 14.6%
World rank
50th
of 103 countries
All-time high
2,018 per million people
in 2020
All-time low
73.09 per million people
in 1997
Years of data
20
1996–2023
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Thailand, 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
The most recent figure for number of r&d researchers per million people in Thailand is 1,592 per million people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 14.6% on the previous year and up 105.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in Thailand peaked at 2,018 per million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 73.09 per million people, in 1997.
That places Thailand 50th out of 103 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of R&D researchers per million people in Thailand, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 101.46 per million people | — |
| 1997 | 73.09 per million people | -28.0% |
| 1999 | 168.24 per million people | +130.2% |
| 2001 | 279.6 per million people | +66.2% |
| 2003 | 280.53 per million people | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 311.93 per million people | +11.2% |
| 2007 | 320.05 per million people | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 324.13 per million people | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 528.56 per million people | +63.1% |
| 2013 | 773.81 per million people | +46.4% |
| 2014 | 941.8 per million people | +21.7% |
| 2015 | 844.08 per million people | -10.4% |
| 2016 | 1,179 per million people | +39.7% |
| 2017 | 1,316 per million people | +11.6% |
| 2018 | 1,712 per million people | +30.1% |
| 2019 | 1,744 per million people | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 2,018 per million people | +15.7% |
| 2021 | 1,696 per million people | -16.0% |
| 2022 | 1,863 per million people | +9.9% |
| 2023 | 1,592 per million people | -14.6% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 1,592 per million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 758.01 per million people, 2.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 1,592 per million people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,338 per million people, 48% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 114.26 per million people | 73.09 per million people | 168.24 per million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 303.25 per million people | 279.6 per million people | 324.13 per million people | 5 |
| 2010s | 1,130 per million people | 528.56 per million people | 1,744 per million people | 8 |
| 2020s | 1,792 per million people | 1,592 per million people | 2,018 per million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
- 47 Cyprus 1,686 per million people compare
- 48 Tunisia 1,668 per million people compare
- 49 Azerbaijan 1,663 per million people compare
- 51 Belarus 1,568 per million people
- 52 Argentina 1,313 per million people compare
- 53 Saudi Arabia 1,235 per million people
More science & technology data for Thailand
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 160.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.61 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 115.13 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 236.69 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -4.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -4.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 7,797 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 7,797 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in Thailand?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in Thailand was 1,592 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 2,018 per million people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.09 per million people in 1997.
- How does Thailand rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- Thailand ranks 50th out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 105.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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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