Iraq: Researchers in R&D (per million people)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2021, Iraq's researchers in R&D (per million people) rose 27.69 on 2020 (from 136.6 to 164.28).

Across the 10 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2020), the average change was +12.91 and a typical year strayed about 12.31 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 39.98 in 2017 and the biggest yearly fall was 3.29 in 2015. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2021 the straight-line trend is upward, about 14.58 a year. A straight line explains 92% of the movement over 8 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

Closest to Iraq in the 2021 ranking

• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 1st of 3: 2,240
• Bolivia — 3rd of 3: 63.06

What this measures

The number of researchers engaged in Research &Development (R&D), expressed as per million. Researchers are professionals who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models techniques instrumentation, software of operational methods. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.

Limitations: Estimates of the resources allocated to R&D are affected by national characteristics such as the periodicity and coverage of national R&D surveys across institutional sectors and industries; and the use of different sampling and estimation methods. R&D typically involves a few large performers, hence R&D surveys use various techniques to maintain up-to-date registers of known performers, while attempting to identify new or occasional performers.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 13 values

Researchers in R&D (per million people) in nearby economies

• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 1,120 (2024)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 2,240 (2021)
• Kuwait — 144.75 (2024)
• Malta — 2,355 (2023)
• Oman — 739.41 (2024)
• Pakistan — 473.72 (2023)
• Tunisia — 1,668 (2024)

More infrastructure data for Iraq

• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 46.08 million (2024)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 100.08 (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 11.46 (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 5.28 million (2024)
• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 36,885 (2023)
• Air transport, passengers carried — 3.76 million (2023)
• Medium and high-tech exports (% manufactured exports) — 0.44% (2024)
• Air transport, freight (million ton-km) — 0 (2023)
• Scientific and technical journal articles — 16,724 (2023)
• Individuals using the Internet (% of population)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Iraq's researchers in R&D (per million people)?

164.28 in 2021, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2007?

It is down 55.7% from 370.87 in 2007 (5.65% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 429.83 in 2011 and the lowest 62.31 in 2016.

Is the latest change in researchers in R&D (per million people) unusual for Iraq?

In 2021, Iraq's researchers in R&D (per million people) rose 27.69 on 2020 (from 136.6 to 164.28). Across the 10 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2020), the average change was +12.91 and a typical year strayed about 12.31 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources/bulk, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), date accessed: 2025-03-26, date published: 2025-02.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SP.POP.SCIE.RD.P6, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources/bulk, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), date accessed: 2025-03-26, date published: 2025-02 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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