Finland vs Sweden: Annual patent applications
Finland
1,557
in 2021
Sweden
1,771
in 2021
Finland rank
24th
Sweden rank
22nd
Annual patent applications over time
- Finland
- Sweden
How they compare
Sweden currently reports 1,771 against 1,557 in Finland, a difference of 214.
That makes Sweden's figure about 1.1 times Finland's.
Across all 42 years both countries report, Sweden has been ahead every year.
Finland ranks 24th and Sweden ranks 22nd of 135 countries.
Sweden has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Finland | Sweden | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,718 | 3,781 | 2,063 | Sweden |
| 1990s | 2,228 | 3,756 | 1,528 | Sweden |
| 2000s | 2,017 | 2,953 | 936.2 | Sweden |
| 2010s | 1,474 | 2,051 | 576.5 | Sweden |
| 2020s | 1,572 | 1,768 | 195 | Sweden |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications, Finland or Sweden?
- Sweden, at 1,771 against 1,557 in Finland as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications between Finland and Sweden?
- 214, with Sweden ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Finland and Sweden?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
- How do Finland and Sweden rank globally for annual patent applications?
- Finland ranks 24th and Sweden ranks 22nd of 135 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Annual patent applications. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.