R&D personnel: R&D Personnel (total economy) in Ireland
Ireland: R&D personnel: R&D Personnel (total economy) was 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2023. ▲ Rising
R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Ireland, 2005–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons (full-time equivalent).
Analysis
The most recent figure for r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Ireland is 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent), measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 15.8% on the previous year and up 55.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Ireland peaked at 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10,338 Persons (full-time equivalent), in 2005.
Ireland ranks 20th of 28 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
R&D personnel: R&D Personnel (total economy) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Persons (full-time equivalent) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 10,338 Persons (full-time equivalent) | — |
| 2006 | 10,647 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 10,956 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 11,755 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 11,959 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 12,194 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 14,120 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +15.8% |
| 2013 | 17,103 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +21.1% |
| 2015 | 18,383 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 19,542 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 19,733 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 22,946 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +16.3% |
| 2023 | 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +15.8% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent) is below the median for high income countries, which is 47,094 Persons (full-time equivalent), 56% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent) is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 42,296 Persons (full-time equivalent), 63% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11,131 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 10,338 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 11,959 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 5 |
| 2010s | 16,846 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 12,194 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 19,733 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 6 |
| 2020s | 24,758 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 22,946 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 17 Hungary 36,881 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 18 Finland 35,355 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 19 Norway 30,102 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 21 Greece 22,628 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 22 New Zealand 20,000 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 23 Argentina 19,938 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 374.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 7.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0082 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 1,078 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 2.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 787.03 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Ireland?
- R&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Ireland was 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 26,571 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2023.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,338 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2005.
- How does Ireland rank for r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity?
- Ireland ranks 20th out of 28 countries with data for 2023.
- Is r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity — R&D Personnel (total economy). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table presents research and development (R&D) statistics on personnel in the business enterprise sector. Measured in full-time equivalent are the number of total R&D personnel and researchers in the business enterprise sector by industry according to the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) revision 4. Data at the industry level are presented from 2000, first year from which some countries converted their data from ISIC rev.3.1 to the current ISIC rev. 4 classification.