R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Japan
Japan: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 626,709 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
626,709 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
3rd
of 52 countries
All-time high
641,790 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2021
All-time low
349,480 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1980
Years of data
44
1980–2023
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Japan, 1980–2023
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
Japan recorded 626,709 Full-time equivalent (FTE) for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in 2023.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Japan peaked at 641,790 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2021 and was at its lowest, 349,480 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1980.
Japan ranks 3rd of 52 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Japan, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 349,480 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1981 | 363,851 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 376,474 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 410,860 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +9.1% |
| 1984 | 425,612 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 451,276 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 462,680 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 481,504 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 502,020 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 528,363 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 558,261 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 563,018 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 583,961 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 583,485 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 577,725 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 573,714 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 589,491 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 586,156 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 613,160 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 604,544 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 581,721 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 561,735 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 555,772 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 580,628 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 587,414 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 609,808 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 619,184 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 620,004 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 625,264 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 616,965 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 614,772 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 602,252 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 581,042 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 583,855 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 611,027 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 592,175 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 586,593 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 603,407 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 611,500 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 617,060 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 624,673 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 641,790 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 640,986 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 626,709 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 626,709 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 14.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 435,212 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 349,480 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 528,363 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 1990s | 583,352 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 558,261 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 613,160 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 595,850 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 555,772 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 625,264 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 600,368 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 581,042 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 617,060 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 633,540 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 624,673 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 641,790 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 1 United States 1.97 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 1 United States 1.97 million Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 4 Germany 553,600 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 5 South Korea 459,405 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 5 South Korea 459,405 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for Japan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.4463 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0491 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,765 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.81 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 142.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0103 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 371.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 11.44 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Japan?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Japan was 626,709 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 641,790 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2021.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 349,480 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- Japan ranks 3rd out of 52 countries with data for 2023.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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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