Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE) in Spain
Spain: Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE) was 3,654 FTE in 2023. ▲ Rising
Researchers per million inhabitants in Spain, 1996–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in FTE.
Analysis
In 2023, researchers per million inhabitants in Spain stood at 3,654 FTE. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.9% on the previous year and up 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, researchers per million inhabitants in Spain peaked at 3,654 FTE in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,286 FTE, in 1996.
Spain ranks 32nd of 103 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE) in Spain, year by year
| Year | FTE | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,286 FTE | — |
| 1997 | 1,336 FTE | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 1,487 FTE | +11.3% |
| 1999 | 1,512 FTE | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 1,874 FTE | +23.9% |
| 2001 | 1,947 FTE | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 2,014 FTE | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 2,195 FTE | +9.0% |
| 2004 | 2,356 FTE | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 2,516 FTE | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 2,613 FTE | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 2,720 FTE | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 2,850 FTE | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 2,877 FTE | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 2,880 FTE | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 2,775 FTE | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 2,693 FTE | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 2,624 FTE | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 2,614 FTE | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 2,623 FTE | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 2,713 FTE | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 2,847 FTE | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 2,984 FTE | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 3,048 FTE | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 3,052 FTE | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 3,230 FTE | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 3,388 FTE | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 3,654 FTE | +7.9% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 3,654 FTE is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,601 FTE, 79% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Spain's 3,654 FTE is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,675 FTE, 99% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,405 FTE | 1,286 FTE | 1,512 FTE | 4 |
| 2000s | 2,396 FTE | 1,874 FTE | 2,877 FTE | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,780 FTE | 2,614 FTE | 3,048 FTE | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,331 FTE | 3,052 FTE | 3,654 FTE | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More science & technology data for Spain
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 130.26 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.28 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 62.41 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 122.45 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 134 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 134 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is researchers per million inhabitants in Spain?
- Researchers per million inhabitants in Spain was 3,654 FTE in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest researchers per million inhabitants recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 3,654 FTE in 2023.
- What is the lowest researchers per million inhabitants recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,286 FTE in 1996.
- How does Spain rank for researchers per million inhabitants?
- Spain ranks 32nd out of 103 countries with data for 2023.
- Is researchers per million inhabitants rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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