R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Ireland
Ireland: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
29th
of 52 countries
All-time high
27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
All-time low
1,468 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1981
Years of data
44
1981–2024
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Ireland, 1981–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
Ireland recorded 27,502 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.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 55.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Ireland peaked at 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,468 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1981.
That places Ireland 29th out of 52 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1,468 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1982 | 1,549 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.5% |
| 1983 | 1,624 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 1,805 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 2,102 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +16.5% |
| 1986 | 2,407 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +14.5% |
| 1987 | 2,561 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.4% |
| 1988 | 2,715 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.0% |
| 1989 | 2,872 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 3,031 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 3,971 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +31.0% |
| 1992 | 4,235 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 4,499 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 5,325 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +18.4% |
| 1995 | 6,151 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +15.5% |
| 1996 | 6,325 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 6,970 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.2% |
| 1998 | 7,645 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +9.7% |
| 1999 | 8,321 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.8% |
| 2000 | 8,724 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 9,126 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 9,204 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 9,280 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 9,650 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 10,338 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 10,647 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 10,956 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 11,755 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 11,959 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 12,194 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 14,120 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +15.8% |
| 2012 | 15,313 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.4% |
| 2013 | 17,103 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.7% |
| 2014 | 17,688 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 18,383 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 18,203 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 19,542 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.4% |
| 2018 | 18,956 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 19,733 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 20,322 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 22,946 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +12.9% |
| 2022 | 22,994 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 26,571 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +15.6% |
| 2024 | 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 96% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is below the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 63% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,123 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 1,468 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2,872 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 9 |
| 1990s | 5,647 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 3,031 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 8,321 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,164 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 8,724 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 11,959 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,123 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 12,194 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 19,733 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,067 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 20,322 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 26 Hungary 38,272 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 27 Finland 37,092 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 28 Norway 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 30 Greece 23,250 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 31 Romania 15,552 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 32 Bulgaria 14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 67.14 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1102 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 12,444 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 103.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0079 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 893.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 7.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Ireland?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Ireland was 27,502 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,468 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1981.
- How does Ireland rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- Ireland ranks 29th out of 52 countries with data for 2024.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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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