Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE) in Germany
Germany: Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE) was 5,926 FTE in 2023. ▲ Rising
Researchers per million inhabitants in Germany, 1996–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in FTE.
Analysis
In 2023, researchers per million inhabitants in Germany stood at 5,926 FTE. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 35.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, researchers per million inhabitants in Germany peaked at 5,926 FTE in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2,802 FTE, in 1996.
Germany ranks 13th of 103 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE) in Germany, year by year
| Year | FTE | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2,802 FTE | — |
| 1997 | 2,863 FTE | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 2,884 FTE | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 3,121 FTE | +8.2% |
| 2000 | 3,154 FTE | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 3,230 FTE | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 3,241 FTE | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 3,275 FTE | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 3,291 FTE | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 3,316 FTE | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 3,412 FTE | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 3,574 FTE | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 3,727 FTE | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 3,917 FTE | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 4,056 FTE | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 4,192 FTE | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 4,356 FTE | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 4,380 FTE | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 4,336 FTE | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 4,755 FTE | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 4,840 FTE | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 5,058 FTE | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 5,209 FTE | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 5,399 FTE | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 5,390 FTE | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 5,521 FTE | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 5,802 FTE | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 5,926 FTE | +2.1% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 5,926 FTE is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 FTE, 1.3× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Germany's 5,926 FTE is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,675 FTE, 1.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2,917 FTE | 2,802 FTE | 3,121 FTE | 4 |
| 2000s | 3,414 FTE | 3,154 FTE | 3,917 FTE | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,658 FTE | 4,056 FTE | 5,399 FTE | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,660 FTE | 5,390 FTE | 5,926 FTE | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More science & technology data for Germany
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 129.15 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.31 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 109.20 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 301.63 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 3.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 19,177 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 19,177 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is researchers per million inhabitants in Germany?
- Researchers per million inhabitants in Germany was 5,926 FTE in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest researchers per million inhabitants recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 5,926 FTE in 2023.
- What is the lowest researchers per million inhabitants recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,802 FTE in 1996.
- How does Germany rank for researchers per million inhabitants?
- Germany ranks 13th out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
- Is researchers per million inhabitants rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release