R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size was 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 8.1%
World rank
10th
of 52 countries
All-time high
270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2019
All-time low
136,844 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 1997
Years of data
39
1981–2019
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in United Kingdom, 1981–2019
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in 2019. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is up 8.1% on the previous year and up 78.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in United Kingdom peaked at 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2019 and was at its lowest, 136,844 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 1997.
United Kingdom ranks 10th of 52 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 195,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | — |
| 1982 | 191,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 186,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 180,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 173,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.9% |
| 1986 | 188,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.7% |
| 1987 | 185,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 185,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 176,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 171,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 159,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -7.0% |
| 1992 | 152,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 150,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 143,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 145,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 141,861 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 136,844 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 148,058 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 152,866 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 145,499 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 154,047 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 158,161 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 156,361 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 149,685 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 145,400 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 149,473 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 157,323 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 152,173 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 151,494 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 154,870 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 158,385 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 160,116 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 177,948 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +11.1% |
| 2014 | 192,221 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 206,153 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 209,584 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 231,234 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 250,059 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | +8.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 184,333 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 173,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 195,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 9 |
| 1990s | 149,963 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 136,844 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 171,000 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2000s | 151,962 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 145,400 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 158,161 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
| 2010s | 201,099 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 154,870 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) | 10 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 7 Russia 390,817 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 7 Russia 390,817 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 9 France 315,753 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 10 United Kingdom 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 12 Türkiye 208,247 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
- 13 Italy 191,636 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
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- Index of digital trade integration and openness (INDIGO) — E. Wider 0.0496 Index (2024)
- Index of digital trade integration and openness (INDIGO) — D. 0.0615 Index (2024)
- Index of digital trade integration and openness (INDIGO) — C. Trust 0.078 Index (2024)
- Index of digital trade integration and openness (INDIGO) — B. Openess 0.0288 Index (2024)
- Index of digital trade integration and openness (INDIGO) — A. 0.0545 Index (2024)
- Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness Index — Infrastructure and 0 Index (2025)
- Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness Index — Other barriers 0 Index (2025)
- Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness Index 0.0212 Index (2025)
- Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness Index — Electronic transactions 0.0212 Index (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in United Kingdom?
- R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size in United Kingdom was 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2019, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 270,417 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2019.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 136,844 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 1997.
- How does United Kingdom rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size?
- United Kingdom ranks 10th out of 52 countries with data for 2019.
- Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by size rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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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