Researchers per million inhabitants in India

India: Researchers per million inhabitants was 259.26 FTE in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
259.26 FTE
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
82nd
of 103 countries
All-time high
259.26 FTE
in 2020
All-time low
110.63 FTE
in 2000
Years of data
8
1996–2020

Researchers per million inhabitants in India, 1996–2020

01002003001996200820201996: 153.9 FTE1998: 116.5 FTE2000: 110.6 FTE2005: 135.1 FTE2010: 156.2 FTE2015: 214.3 FTE2018: 250 FTE2020: 259.3 FTE

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in FTE.

Analysis

India recorded 259.26 FTE for researchers per million inhabitants in 2020. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 66.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, researchers per million inhabitants in India peaked at 259.26 FTE in 2020 and was at its lowest, 110.63 FTE, in 2000.

India ranks 82nd of 103 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Researchers per million inhabitants in India, year by year

Annual values for Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE) in India, 1996 to 2020.
Year FTE Change
1996 153.95 FTE
1998 116.49 FTE -24.3%
2000 110.63 FTE -5.0%
2005 135.15 FTE +22.2%
2010 156.19 FTE +15.6%
2015 214.35 FTE +37.2%
2018 250.01 FTE +16.6%
2020 259.26 FTE +3.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 135.22 FTE 116.49 FTE 153.95 FTE 2
2000s 122.89 FTE 110.63 FTE 135.15 FTE 2
2010s 206.85 FTE 156.19 FTE 250.01 FTE 3
2020s 259.26 FTE 259.26 FTE 259.26 FTE 1

Countries ranked near India

  1. 79 Indonesia 395.34 FTE compare
  2. 80 Kenya 384.02 FTE compare
  3. 81 Philippines 320.28 FTE compare
  4. 83 Panama 250.47 FTE compare
  5. 84 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 179.96 FTE compare
  6. 85 Iraq 164.28 FTE compare

See the full ranking of 153 places →

More science & technology data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is researchers per million inhabitants in India?
Researchers per million inhabitants in India was 259.26 FTE in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest researchers per million inhabitants recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 259.26 FTE in 2020.
What is the lowest researchers per million inhabitants recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 110.63 FTE in 2000.
How does India rank for researchers per million inhabitants?
India ranks 82nd out of 103 countries with data for 2020.
Is researchers per million inhabitants rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 66.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India 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.

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Researchers per million inhabitants in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/researchers-per-million-inhabitants-fte/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE)
Unit
FTE
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
153 places, 3,275 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release