R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Italy
Italy: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
13th
of 52 countries
All-time high
225,056 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2019
All-time low
49,900 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1982
Years of data
44
1981–2024
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Italy, 1981–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
In 2024, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Italy stood at 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE).
That represents a change of down 4.2% on the previous year and up 48.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Italy peaked at 225,056 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2019 and was at its lowest, 49,900 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1982.
Italy ranks 13th of 52 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Italy, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 50,368 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1982 | 49,900 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 51,504 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 52,871 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 56,222 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 57,715 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 57,478 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 61,649 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 64,944 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 67,496 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 65,481 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 63,458 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 61,993 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 63,105 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 60,323 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 60,915 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 61,414 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 61,117 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 59,646 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 63,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 65,271 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 70,228 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 67,958 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 67,519 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 70,725 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 80,082 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +13.2% |
| 2007 | 93,760 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +17.1% |
| 2008 | 106,643 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +13.7% |
| 2009 | 109,768 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 112,212 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 112,478 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 120,162 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 124,736 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 129,271 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 136,725 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 164,471 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +20.3% |
| 2017 | 191,960 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +16.7% |
| 2018 | 218,822 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +14.0% |
| 2019 | 225,056 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 211,789 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 198,175 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 198,522 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 200,101 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -4.2% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 6.7× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Italy's 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 4.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 55,850 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 49,900 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 64,944 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 9 |
| 1990s | 62,495 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 59,646 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 67,496 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 79,595 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 63,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 109,768 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 153,589 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 112,212 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 225,056 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 200,045 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 211,789 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 5 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 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
- 14 Netherlands 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 14 Netherlands 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 16 Spain 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for Italy
- 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 0.8337 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 22.90 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.009 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 388.75 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 882.91 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -96.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 49.38 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Italy?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Italy was 191,636 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 225,056 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2019.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 49,900 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1982.
- How does Italy rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- Italy ranks 13th out of 52 countries with data for 2024.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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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