Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and in Iceland

Iceland: Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and was 3.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
3.5%
Change on year
down 11.7%
World rank
2nd
of 48 countries
All-time high
4.0%
in 2021
All-time low
2.8%
in 2011
Years of data
13
2003–2023

Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and in Iceland, 2003–2023

012342003201320232003: 3.5 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2005: 3.6 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2006: 3.7 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2007: 3.2 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2008: 3.3 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2009: 3 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2011: 2.8 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2013: 2.8 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2017: 3.3 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2018: 3.2 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2021: 4 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2022: 3.9 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2023: 3.5 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC).

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and in Iceland is 3.5%, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 11.7% on the previous year and up 23.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and in Iceland peaked at 4.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2011.

Iceland ranks 2nd of 48 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and employment by sector of performance and sex in Iceland, 2003 to 2023.
Year Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC) Change
2003 3.5%
2005 3.6% +2.0%
2006 3.7% +1.9%
2007 3.2% -14.1%
2008 3.3% +2.8%
2009 3.0% -8.9%
2011 2.8% -5.7%
2013 2.8% +0.0%
2017 3.3% +17.1%
2018 3.2% -2.7%
2021 4.0% +24.8%
2022 3.9% -1.5%
2023 3.5% -11.7%

Iceland compared with similar countries

  • Iceland's 3.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.2%, 1.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Iceland's 3.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 1.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.4% 3.0% 3.7% 6
2010s 3.0% 2.8% 3.3% 4
2020s 3.8% 3.5% 4.0% 3

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 1 Belgium 3.6% compare
  2. 3 Norway 3.4% compare
  3. 4 Austria 3.3% compare
  4. 5 Finland 3.3% compare

See the full ranking of 51 places →

More work & labour data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and in Iceland?
Share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and in Iceland was 3.5% in 2023, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 2021.
What is the lowest share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2011.
How does Iceland rank for share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and?
Iceland ranks 2nd out of 48 countries with data for 2023.
Is share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is up 23.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and employment by sector of performance and sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-r-and-d-personnel-and-researchers-in-total-active-population-and-employment-by/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and employment by sector of performance and sex
Unit
Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
51 places, 1,043 data points, 1992–2024
Last refreshed