R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Japan
Japan: R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity was 626,709 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2023. ▬ Flat
R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Japan, 2005–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons (full-time equivalent).
Analysis
In 2023, r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Japan stood at 626,709 Persons (full-time equivalent).
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and up 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Japan peaked at 641,790 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2021 and was at its lowest, 581,042 Persons (full-time equivalent), in 2012.
That places Japan 1st out of 28 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Japan, year by year
| Year | Persons (full-time equivalent) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 609,808 Persons (full-time equivalent) | — |
| 2006 | 619,184 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 620,004 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 625,264 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 616,965 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 614,772 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 602,252 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 581,042 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 583,855 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 611,027 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 592,175 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 586,593 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 603,407 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 611,500 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 617,060 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 624,673 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 641,790 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 640,986 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 626,709 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -2.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 626,709 Persons (full-time equivalent) is above the median for high income countries, which is 47,094 Persons (full-time equivalent), 13.3× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 618,245 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 609,808 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 625,264 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 5 |
| 2010s | 600,368 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 581,042 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 617,060 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 10 |
| 2020s | 633,540 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 624,673 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 641,790 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 2 Germany 543,452 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 3 France 311,701 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 3 United Kingdom 231,234 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 4 Türkiye 190,341 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 4 Chinese Taipei 243,658 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
More economy & growth data for Japan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.4463 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0491 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,765 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.81 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 142.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0103 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 371.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 11.44 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Japan?
- R&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Japan was 626,709 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 641,790 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2021.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 581,042 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2012.
- How does Japan rank for r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity?
- Japan ranks 1st out of 28 countries with data for 2023.
- Is r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
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.