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

United Kingdom: Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and was 2.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
2.4%
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
17th
of 48 countries
All-time high
2.4%
in 2018
All-time low
1.6%
in 2005
Years of data
12
2005–2018

Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and in United Kingdom, 2005–2018

00.511.522.52005201120182005: 1.6 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2007: 1.6 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2009: 1.7 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2010: 1.7 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2011: 1.8 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2012: 1.9 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2013: 1.9 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2014: 2 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2015: 2.1 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2016: 2.2 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2017: 2.3 Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC)2018: 2.4 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 United Kingdom is 2.4%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 44.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and in United Kingdom peaked at 2.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2005.

That places United Kingdom 17th out of 48 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.

Share of R&D personnel and researchers in total active population and in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom, 2005 to 2018.
Year Percentage of population in the labour force - numerator in head count (HC) Change
2005 1.6%
2007 1.6% +3.8%
2009 1.7% +0.6%
2010 1.7% +3.0%
2011 1.8% +7.0%
2012 1.9% +1.6%
2013 1.9% +4.8%
2014 2.0% +5.1%
2015 2.1% +2.9%
2016 2.2% +2.8%
2017 2.3% +6.0%
2018 2.4% +3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1.6% 1.6% 1.7% 3
2010s 2.0% 1.7% 2.4% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 14 Slovenia 2.6% compare
  2. 14 Slovenia 2.6% compare
  3. 16 Ireland 2.5% compare
  4. 17 Czechia 2.4% compare
  5. 17 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.4% compare
  6. 20 France 2.2% compare

See the full ranking of 51 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and in United Kingdom?
Share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and in United Kingdom was 2.4% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 2.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2005.
How does United Kingdom rank for share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and?
United Kingdom ranks 17th out of 48 countries with data for 2018.
Is share of r&d personnel and researchers in total active population and rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 44.2%. 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 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 United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-r-and-d-personnel-and-researchers-in-total-active-population-and-employment-by/united-kingdom-2/

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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