R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector … size in Italy
Italy: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector … size was 188,317 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
188,317 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
down 5.9%
World rank
13th
of 54 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 188,317 Full-time equivalent (FTE).
That represents a change of down 5.9% on the previous year and up 45.7% 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 54 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 … 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 | 188,317 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -5.9% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 188,317 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,882 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 6.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Italy's 188,317 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 45,135 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 4.2× 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 | 199,381 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 188,317 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 147,342 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 15 Netherlands 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 16 Spain 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for Italy
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -31.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0116 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 502.25 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.3992 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0085 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 366.74 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 2.39 % 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 188,317 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 54 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 45.7%. 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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