R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Netherlands
Netherlands: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
14th
of 52 countries
All-time high
145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
All-time low
27,140 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1982
Years of data
44
1981–2024
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Netherlands, 1981–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
The most recent figure for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Netherlands is 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE), measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 54.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Netherlands peaked at 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27,140 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1982.
Netherlands ranks 14th of 52 countries on this measure, 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 27,144 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1982 | 27,140 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 27,200 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 27,430 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 29,940 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +9.2% |
| 1986 | 30,820 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 31,210 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 31,390 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 33,240 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 31,950 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 29,970 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -6.2% |
| 1992 | 29,440 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 30,890 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 35,993 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +16.5% |
| 1995 | 37,817 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 39,501 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 42,411 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.4% |
| 1998 | 43,872 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 45,181 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 47,509 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 48,366 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 47,034 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 44,485 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 50,028 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +12.5% |
| 2005 | 48,588 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 52,841 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 49,246 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 48,019 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 42,336 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -11.8% |
| 2010 | 54,139 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +27.9% |
| 2011 | 74,010 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +36.7% |
| 2012 | 76,767 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 95,108 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +23.9% |
| 2014 | 94,612 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 97,443 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 102,614 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 107,496 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 112,807 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 115,124 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 118,355 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 123,627 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 133,950 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.4% |
| 2023 | 140,132 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.0% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 5.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 3.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Netherlands changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +36.7% | 54,139 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 74,010 Full-time equivalent (FTE) |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 29,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 27,140 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 33,240 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 9 |
| 1990s | 36,702 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 29,440 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 45,181 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 47,845 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 42,336 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 52,841 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 93,012 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 54,139 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 115,124 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 132,370 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 118,355 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 12 Türkiye 208,247 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 13 Italy 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 14 Netherlands 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 16 Spain 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 17 Poland 117,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 17 Poland 117,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for Netherlands
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -5.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0049 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -329.49 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -17.06 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 95.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0141 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -948.01 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 49.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0886 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 6,527 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Netherlands?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Netherlands was 145,785 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 27,140 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1982.
- How does Netherlands rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- Netherlands ranks 14th out of 52 countries with data for 2024.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).