R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Switzerland
Switzerland: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 8.8%
World rank
22nd
of 52 countries
All-time high
58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2023
All-time low
23,109 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1983
Years of data
14
1983–2023
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Switzerland, 1983–2023
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 Switzerland is 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE), measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is up 8.8% on the previous year and up 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Switzerland peaked at 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023 and was at its lowest, 23,109 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1983.
Switzerland ranks 22nd of 52 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 23,109 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1986 | 35,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +51.5% |
| 1989 | 39,300 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +12.3% |
| 1992 | 33,900 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -13.7% |
| 1996 | 34,450 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 36,190 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 33,085 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 39,832 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +20.4% |
| 2012 | 47,750 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +19.9% |
| 2015 | 50,825 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 46,510 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -8.5% |
| 2019 | 51,999 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.8% |
| 2021 | 54,111 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.8% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 2.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is above the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 1.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32,470 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 23,109 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 39,300 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 3 |
| 1990s | 34,175 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 33,900 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 34,450 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2 |
| 2000s | 36,369 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 33,085 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 39,832 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 3 |
| 2010s | 49,271 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 46,510 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 51,999 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 4 |
| 2020s | 56,505 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 54,111 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 2 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 19 Sweden 93,662 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 20 Belgium 82,328 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 21 Austria 67,042 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 23 Czechia 51,740 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 24 Portugal 45,414 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 25 Denmark 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for Switzerland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.6894 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 25.32 billion BoP, current US$ (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$), per capita 2,784 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -12.29 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 88.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0118 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1,351 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 18.29 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Switzerland?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in Switzerland was 58,899 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 58,899 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2023.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,109 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1983.
- How does Switzerland rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- Switzerland ranks 22nd out of 52 countries with data for 2023.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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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