R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size class and sex by country
Countries reporting
54
Highest
1.97 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
United States
Lowest
185.9 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Montenegro
Median
32,987 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Years covered
45
1980–2024
Data points
1,774
What the numbers show
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size class and sex is currently reported for 54 countries. The highest value is 1.97 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) in United States; the lowest is 185.9 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in Montenegro.
The median across all reporting countries is 32,987 Full-time equivalent (FTE), and the mean is 169,498 Full-time equivalent (FTE).
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 10,596.
Over the past decade 51 countries rose and 3 fell. The largest increase was in North Macedonia (up 264.4%), and the largest decrease in Russia (down 14.1%).
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector … size: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 1.97 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2022 | up 57.5% | rising |
| 2 | United States | 1.68 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | up 36.2% | rising |
| 3 | Japan | 624,673 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2020 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 4 | Germany | 554,101 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 49.1% | rising |
| 5 | Korea | 459,405 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 59.1% | volatile |
| 6 | South Korea | 416,895 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2020 | up 81.1% | volatile |
| 7 | Russia | 390,817 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | down 14.1% | falling |
| 7 | Russia | 390,817 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | down 14.1% | falling |
| 9 | France | 322,528 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | up 78.5% | rising |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2019 | up 78.5% | rising |
| 12 | Türkiye | 208,247 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 236.2% | volatile |
| 13 | Italy | 188,317 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 45.7% | volatile |
| 14 | Netherlands | 147,342 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 55.7% | volatile |
| 15 | Netherlands | 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 54.1% | volatile |
| 16 | Spain | 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 59.1% | volatile |
| 17 | Poland | 117,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 216.7% | volatile |
| 17 | Poland | 117,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 216.7% | volatile |
| 19 | Sweden | 93,662 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 63.4% | rising |
| 20 | Belgium | 80,220 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 89.2% | rising |
| 21 | Austria | 67,732 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 22 | Switzerland | 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 23.3% | rising |
| 23 | Czechia | 51,740 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 46.8% | rising |
| 24 | Portugal | 45,414 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 161.8% | volatile |
| 25 | Denmark | 45,135 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 26 | Hungary | 38,272 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 72.6% | volatile |
| 27 | Finland | 37,092 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 25.2% | rising |
| 28 | Norway | 28,882 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 40.2% | rising |
| 29 | Ireland | 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 55.5% | volatile |
| 30 | Greece | 23,011 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 196.9% | volatile |
| 31 | Romania | 15,552 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 49.0% | volatile |
| 32 | Bulgaria | 14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 164.1% | volatile |
| 33 | Slovenia | 11,482 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 18.4% | rising |
| 34 | Slovenia | 11,383 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 17.4% | rising |
| 35 | Slovak Republic | 11,098 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 168.5% | rising |
| 35 | Slovakia | 11,098 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 168.5% | rising |
| 37 | Serbia | 7,974 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 161.1% | volatile |
| 37 | Serbia | 7,974 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 161.1% | volatile |
| 39 | Croatia | 7,577 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 204.4% | volatile |
| 40 | Croatia | 7,106 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 185.4% | rising |
| 41 | Lithuania | 6,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 105.2% | volatile |
| 42 | Lithuania | 5,828 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 76.2% | volatile |
| 43 | Estonia | 5,364 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 198.3% | volatile |
| 43 | Estonia | 5,364 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 198.3% | volatile |
| 45 | Luxembourg | 3,050 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 1.1% | falling |
| 46 | Iceland | 2,901 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 130.3% | volatile |
| 47 | Latvia | 2,244 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 62.4% | rising |
| 48 | Latvia | 2,082 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 50.7% | rising |
| 49 | Malta | 1,577 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 65.9% | volatile |
| 50 | Cyprus | 850 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 218.1% | volatile |
| 51 | North Macedonia | 556 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 264.4% | volatile |
| 51 | North Macedonia | 556 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2023 | up 264.4% | volatile |
| 53 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 352 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2021 | down 3.0% | rising |
| 54 | Montenegro | 185.9 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2024 | up 52.8% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- China except Hong Kong 4.06 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 2.06 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- Euro area – 21 countries (from 2026) 1.70 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)
- Euro area – 20 countries (2023-2025) 1.68 million Full-time equivalent (FTE)