R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Belgium
Belgium: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
20th
of 52 countries
All-time high
82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
All-time low
18,604 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1981
Years of data
43
1981–2024
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Belgium, 1981–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
The most recent figure for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Belgium is 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE), measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 94.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Belgium peaked at 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024 and was at its lowest, 18,604 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1981.
Belgium ranks 20th of 52 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 18,604 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1982 | 18,799 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 18,810 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 19,190 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 20,547 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 21,815 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 22,503 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 22,474 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 22,071 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 22,313 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 21,115 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -5.4% |
| 1993 | 21,932 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 23,402 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 24,346 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 27,252 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.9% |
| 1997 | 28,161 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 29,264 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 30,868 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 33,493 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 35,490 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 31,686 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -10.7% |
| 2003 | 31,376 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 30,741 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 31,613 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 32,750 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 34,011 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 32,905 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 32,969 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 32,692 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 35,010 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 38,108 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 38,497 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 42,391 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 44,508 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 46,564 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 50,106 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 53,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.8% |
| 2019 | 57,662 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 60,721 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 81,251 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +33.8% |
| 2022 | 78,725 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 79,728 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.3% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 2.9× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 1.9× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +33.8% | 60,721 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 81,251 Full-time equivalent (FTE) |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 20,535 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 18,604 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 22,503 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 9 |
| 1990s | 25,406 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 21,115 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 30,868 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 9 |
| 2000s | 32,703 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 30,741 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 35,490 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 43,904 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 32,692 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 57,662 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 76,550 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 60,721 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 17 Poland 117,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 17 Poland 117,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 19 Sweden 93,662 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 21 Austria 67,042 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 22 Switzerland 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 23 Czechia 51,740 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for Belgium
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -19.31 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0266 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1,617 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 30.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0397 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -2,411 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 33.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Belgium?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Belgium was 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 18,604 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1981.
- How does Belgium rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- Belgium ranks 20th out of 52 countries with data for 2024.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 94.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size class and sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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