Number of R&D researchers per million people in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 4,473 per million people in 2017. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people in United Kingdom, 1996–2017
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 2017, number of r&d researchers per million people in United Kingdom stood at 4,473 per million people. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in United Kingdom peaked at 4,473 per million people in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2,486 per million people, in 1996.
United Kingdom ranks 29th of 103 countries on this measure, 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2,486 per million people | — |
| 1997 | 2,495 per million people | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 2,694 per million people | +8.0% |
| 1999 | 2,853 per million people | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 2,893 per million people | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 3,078 per million people | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 3,336 per million people | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 3,631 per million people | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 3,818 per million people | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 4,118 per million people | +7.8% |
| 2006 | 4,176 per million people | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 4,123 per million people | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 4,077 per million people | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 4,113 per million people | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 4,089 per million people | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 3,973 per million people | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 4,018 per million people | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 4,172 per million people | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 4,281 per million people | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 4,390 per million people | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 4,435 per million people | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 4,473 per million people | +0.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 4,473 per million people is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 per million people, 97% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 4,473 per million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,675 per million people, 1.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2,632 per million people | 2,486 per million people | 2,853 per million people | 4 |
| 2000s | 3,736 per million people | 2,893 per million people | 4,176 per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,229 per million people | 3,973 per million people | 4,473 per million people | 8 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More science & technology data for United Kingdom
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 121.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.21 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 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 348.57 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.9277 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.2704 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 7,847 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 7,847 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in United Kingdom?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in United Kingdom was 4,473 per million people in 2017, 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 4,473 per million people in 2017.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,486 per million people in 1996.
- How does United Kingdom rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- United Kingdom ranks 29th out of 103 countries with data for 2017.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.