R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Spain
Spain: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
16th
of 52 countries
All-time high
139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2024
All-time low
12,006 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1981
Years of data
45
1980–2024
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Spain, 1980–2024
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 Spain is 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE), measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 59.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Spain peaked at 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12,006 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1981.
Spain ranks 16th 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12,303 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1981 | 12,006 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 12,914 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 12,904 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 15,022 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +16.4% |
| 1985 | 16,859 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +12.2% |
| 1986 | 19,007 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +12.7% |
| 1987 | 20,361 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 23,678 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +16.3% |
| 1989 | 25,865 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +9.2% |
| 1990 | 28,508 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.2% |
| 1991 | 29,151 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 28,590 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 27,781 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 27,321 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 27,558 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 29,431 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.8% |
| 1997 | 30,023 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 34,667 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +15.5% |
| 1999 | 38,323 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 47,055 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +22.8% |
| 2001 | 46,464 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 56,337 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +21.2% |
| 2003 | 65,032 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +15.4% |
| 2004 | 71,123 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 75,345 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 82,870 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 87,543 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 95,207 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 93,699 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 92,221 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 89,841 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 89,364 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 88,635 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 87,642 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 87,432 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 90,129 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 95,667 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 104,474 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 106,435 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 104,728 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 116,465 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.2% |
| 2022 | 125,529 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 134,793 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.4% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 4.9× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Spain's 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 3.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17,092 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 12,006 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 25,865 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 1990s | 30,135 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 27,321 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 38,323 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 72,068 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 46,464 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 95,207 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 93,184 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 87,432 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 106,435 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2020s | 124,190 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 104,728 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 5 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 13 Italy 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 14 Netherlands 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 14 Netherlands 145,785 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 17 Poland 117,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 17 Poland 117,998 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 19 Sweden 93,662 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for Spain
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.77 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.62 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 46.38 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0243 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 939.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 28.09 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -34.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0147 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 569.12 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 19.32 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Spain?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Spain was 139,437 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 139,437 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,006 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1981.
- How does Spain rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- Spain ranks 16th out of 52 countries with data for 2024.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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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