European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) vs South Korea: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size

European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)
2.05 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
South Korea
459,405 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2023
European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) rank
2nd
South Korea rank
5th

R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size over time

  • European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)
  • South Korea
0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M199020072024

How they compare

European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) currently reports 2.05 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) against 459,405 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in South Korea, a difference of 1.59 million Full-time equivalent (FTE).

That makes European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)'s figure about 4.5 times South Korea's.

Across all 27 years both countries report, European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) has been ahead every year.

European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) ranks 2nd and South Korea ranks 5th of 4 regions.

European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) South Korea Difference Ahead
1990s 833,748 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 87,650 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 746,098 Full-time equivalent (FTE) European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)
2000s 998,341 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 151,624 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 846,718 Full-time equivalent (FTE) European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)
2010s 1.39 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) 310,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 1.08 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)
2020s 1.89 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) 444,870 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 1.45 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size, European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) or South Korea?
European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), at 2.05 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) against 459,405 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in South Korea as of 2024.
What is the difference in r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size between European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) and South Korea?
1.59 million Full-time equivalent (FTE), with European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) and South Korea?
27 years are reported by both, from 1995 to 2023.
How do European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) and South Korea rank globally for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) ranks 2nd and South Korea ranks 5th of 4 regions.
Where does this data come from?
Eurostat, published as R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size class and sex. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) vs South Korea: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/r-and-d-personnel-and-researchers-in-business-enterprise-sector-by-size-class-and-sex/european-union-27-countries-from-2020/south-korea/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size class and sex
Unit
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
56 places, 1,751 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed