R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in France
France: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
9th
of 52 countries
All-time high
315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
All-time low
127,640 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1981
Years of data
44
1981–2024
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in France, 1981–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
France recorded 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in 2024. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in France peaked at 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024 and was at its lowest, 127,640 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1981.
That places France 9th out of 52 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in France, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 127,640 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1982 | 132,228 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 132,200 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 137,848 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 140,458 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 140,811 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 143,365 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 145,398 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 149,822 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 153,161 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 156,301 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 164,378 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 164,384 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 161,955 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 162,042 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 162,590 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 166,310 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 167,765 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 171,564 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 177,688 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 185,468 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 191,217 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 193,256 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 200,512 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 194,992 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 207,875 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 215,891 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 220,016 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 225,891 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 235,588 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 239,111 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 246,438 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 251,446 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 248,041 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 251,915 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 255,805 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 265,701 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 276,547 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 283,545 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 286,320 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 302,380 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 303,204 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 311,701 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.3% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 11.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- France's 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 7.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 138,863 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 127,640 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 149,822 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 9 |
| 1990s | 163,045 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 153,161 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 171,564 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 201,281 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 177,688 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 225,891 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 255,414 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 235,588 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 283,545 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 303,872 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 286,320 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
- 7 Russia 390,817 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 7 Russia 390,817 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 10 United Kingdom 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 10 United Kingdom 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 12 Türkiye 208,247 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for France
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.18 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.34 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 80.27 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0238 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,168 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 73.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 40.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0217 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,063 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 51.39 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in France?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in France was 315,753 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 127,640 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1981.
- How does France rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- France ranks 9th out of 52 countries with data for 2024.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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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