Industry Statistics and Trends
Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe key trends
Government funding for R&D activities climbs.
Greater incentives are encouraging businesses to invest more resources in R&D, while support from Horizon Europe and the Humanities in the European Research Area is also increasing.
R&D for social sciences and humanities often lags behind the sciences.
Greater effort is being made to recognise the value of SHAPE research.
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Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.
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Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe market size (2020-2025)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €3.3bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Research and development investment for social sciences and humanities remains lower than in the sciences
- Research in the social sciences, humanities and arts (SHAPE) often plays second fiddle to research and development (R&D) in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), resulting in significantly lower revenue compared to the Natural Science and Engineering Research and Development Activities industry.
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Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Horizon Europe will continue to boost revenue for research and development (R&D) activities
- Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship R&D programme, will provide funding for research under the current programme until 2027, totalling €93.5 billion.
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Revenue
€3.3bn
Employees
32,213
Wages
€X.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
Top 5 Countries
Bottom 5 Countries
* CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.
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Biggest companies in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e. V. | 2,191.0 | 189.5 | 8.7 | |
CNRS – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique | 4,342.5 | 86.9 | 2.0 | |
The Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford | 3,714.7 | 122.6 | 3.3 |
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Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe in 2025?
The market size of the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe is €3.3bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe in 2025?
There are 21,644 businesses in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe has been declining at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe is expected to grow.
What does the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe include?
Economics and political science and Economics and political science are part of the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe.
How competitive is the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe?
The level of competition is low and steady in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Portugal
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Serbia
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Belgium
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Hungary
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Czechia
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Croatia
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Iceland
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Greece
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Russia
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Italy
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Poland
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Slovakia
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Ireland
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Finland
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Austria
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Romania
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in the UK
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Denmark
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Norway
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Slovenia
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Estonia
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Spain
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in France
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in the Netherlands
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Switzerland
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Germany
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Lithuania
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Sweden
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Bulgaria
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry includes organisations engaged in research and development work focused on social science and humanities. Funded projects focus on areas like economic development and political science. The industry excludes market research activities focused on assessing market potential, consumer habits, product acceptance and public opinion polling for commercial purposes.
Related Terms
SOCIAL SCIENCEHUMANITIESHORIZON EUROPEWhat's included in this industry?
Economics and political scienceEconomics and political scienceGeography and history Other research activitiesCompanies
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e. V.CNRS – Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueThe Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the University of OxfordIndustry Code
722 - Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities in Europe
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Performance
Key Takeaways
Research and development investment for social sciences and humanities remains lower than in the sciences
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Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Employees in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Business in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Profit in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
Humanities research grows in importance. Concerns about climate change have led to increased funding and resources for addressing the ever-present issue of environmental degradation.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Total Imports into Europe
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2025)
- IVA (2025)
- Enterprises (2025)
- Employment (2025)
- Exports (2025)
- Imports (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
Partnerships with key clients and governments help boost economies of scale. Relationships are important when products, theories and strategies are being developed, as they help diversify the risk of R&D costs if a project hits a dead end.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit Margin (2025)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e. V.
- Countries of operation for CNRS – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Countries of operation for The Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford
- Countries of operation for Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
- Countries of operation for The University of Cambridge
- Countries of operation for University College London
- Countries of operation for Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
- Countries of operation for University of Copenhagen
- Countries of operation for Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
- Countries of operation for The Economic and Social Research Institute
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Governments and EU legislation heavily regulate research activities. The development of new strategies and products must adhere to strict parameters, creating a significant burden for research companies.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Profit relies on securing funding. Long-term funding contracts can give greater guarantees and financial backing for a project, boosting profitability for companies.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.
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France
Italy
Spain