Full-time equivalent, and full-time and part-time researchers per 1,000,000 population

There are multiple measures of researchers per million inhabitants in the UK. One is provided on a full-time equivalency basis by the World Bank and follows the UN specification for this indicator. This is displayed here as the headline data.

Another measure is calculated using the Labour Force Survey by the Office for National Statistics using a headcount of both full-time and part-time workers. The headcount figures are valuable, despite not following the UN specification, as they allow us to disaggregate by some of the Leave No-one Behind characteristics, for example, migratory and disability status.

You can switch between the two options below by using Units toggle on the left hand side. Please note, disaggregations are only available when the headcount option is selected.

Sub-categories

Choose categories from the dropdowns below to see different breakdowns of the data. Some will not be available until a higher level is chosen.

Download headline data (.csv) Download source data (.csv)

Download source data for disaggregations (.csv)

Headline data

Researchers per 1,000,000 population
Year Value Units Series GeoCode Observation status Unit multiplier
2012 8302.9 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2013 8546.2 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2014 9369.7 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2015 9946.7 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2016 9877.9 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2017 9824.2 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2000 2893.16262 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2001 3079.38906 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2002 3338.94652 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2003 3636.94298 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2004 3823.53551 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2005 4123.61395 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2006 4177.58715 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2007 4113.85164 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2008 4058.42521 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2009 4083.44176 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2010 4053.03668 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2011 3939.04069 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2012 3986.84956 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2013 4141.30419 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2014 4254.10877 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2015 4350.08719 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units
2016 4429.5838 Per million population Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants Normal value Units

Source: Office for National Statistics

Geographical Area: United Kingdom

Unit of Measurement: Number per 1,000,000

Footnote: Headcount figures are of all full-time and part time employees whose self-reported main job is in research.

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available

Full-time equivalent, and full-time and part-time researchers per 1,000,000 population
Indicator description

Not available for this indicator
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Unit of measurement

Number per 1,000,000
Definitions

Disability Status - The (GSS) harmonised "core" definition identifies a person as disabled if they have a physical or mental health condition or illness that has lasted or is expected to last 12 months or more. It must reduce their ability to carry-out day-to-day activities. It is important to note that a person who has a long-term illness that does not reduce their ability to carry-out day-to-day activities is not disabled under the definition. The GSS harmonised questions are asked of the respondent in the survey, meaning that disability status is self-reported. The GSS definition is designed to reflect the definitions that appear in legal terms in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) for Northern Ireland and the 2010 Equality Act for Great Britain.
Available disaggregations

Not available for this indicator
Calculations

Not available for this indicator
Other information

Full-time equivalent (FTE) figures come from the World Bank database. Headcount values are calculated from the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey.

The Washington Group on Disability Statistics are often used to provide a cross-nationally comparable population- based measures of disability. Please see the article Measuring disability - comparing approaches for a comparison between the GSS Harmonised measure (used here) and the Washington Group measure.

Data follows the UN specification for this indicator. This indicator has been identified in collaboration with topic experts.

Data last updated 16 November 2021
Metadata last updated 16 November 2021

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name

Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants
Target name

Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
UN designated tier

Tier I
UN custodian agency

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals metadata for target 9.5 opens in a new window

Source 1

Organisation

Office for National Statistics
Periodicity

N/A
Earliest available data

2012
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Link to data source Number of researchers in the UK - 2012 to 2017 opens in a new window
Release date 04 April 2019
Next release

N/A: We plan to update indicator data within 4 months of data being released
Statistical classification

Official Statistic
Contact details

SustainableDevelopment@ons.gov.uk
Other information

Figures are a headcount of all full-time and part time employees whose self-reported main job is in research. Full list of jobs available from the source.

Source 2

Organisation

World Bank
Periodicity

Annual
Earliest available data

1996
Geographical coverage

UK
Link to data source Researchers in R&D (per million people) opens in a new window
Release date NA
Next release

NA: We plan to update indicator data within 4 months of data being released
Statistical classification

Non official
Contact details

Not available for this source
Other information

Not available for this source
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