Number of R&D researchers per million people in United States
United States: Number of R&D researchers per million people was 4,937 per million people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Number of R&D researchers per million people in United States, 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 United States is 4,937 per million people, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 32.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of r&d researchers per million people in United States peaked at 4,937 per million people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 3,207 per million people, in 1996.
United States ranks 23rd of 103 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Number of R&D researchers per million people in United States, year by year
| Year | per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 3,207 per million people | — |
| 1997 | 3,311 per million people | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 3,472 per million people | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 3,547 per million people | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 3,556 per million people | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 3,599 per million people | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 3,646 per million people | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 3,851 per million people | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 3,710 per million people | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 3,635 per million people | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 3,674 per million people | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 3,624 per million people | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 3,751 per million people | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 3,878 per million people | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 3,644 per million people | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 3,755 per million people | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 3,735 per million people | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 3,815 per million people | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 3,915 per million people | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 3,950 per million people | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 3,897 per million people | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 4,021 per million people | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 4,323 per million people | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 4,367 per million people | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 4,568 per million people | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 4,901 per million people | +7.3% |
| 2022 | 4,937 per million people | +0.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 4,937 per million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 per million people, 1.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,384 per million people | 3,207 per million people | 3,547 per million people | 4 |
| 2000s | 3,693 per million people | 3,556 per million people | 3,878 per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,942 per million people | 3,644 per million people | 4,367 per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,802 per million people | 4,568 per million people | 4,937 per million people | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
More science & technology data for United States
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 113.19 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.15 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 390.99 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 42.21 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.693 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 332,899 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 332,899 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of r&d researchers per million people in United States?
- Number of r&d researchers per million people in United States was 4,937 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 4,937 per million people in 2022.
- What is the lowest number of r&d researchers per million people recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,207 per million people in 1996.
- How does United States rank for number of r&d researchers per million people?
- United States ranks 23rd out of 103 countries with data for 2022.
- Is number of r&d researchers per million people rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.