Singapore vs South Africa: Patent applications, nonresidents

Singapore
12,566
in 2021
South Africa
9,156
in 2021
Singapore rank
12th
South Africa rank
14th

Patent applications, nonresidents over time

  • Singapore
  • South Africa
02.5k5.0k7.5k10.0k12.5k198020002021

How they compare

Singapore currently reports 12,566 against 9,156 in South Africa, a difference of 3,410.

That makes Singapore's figure about 1.4 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 32 shared years of data; in 1980 it was South Africa ahead.

Singapore ranks 12th and South Africa ranks 14th of 150 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Singapore averaged higher in 4 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Singapore South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 803.2 5,664 4,861 South Africa
1990s 6,773 5,741 1,031 Singapore
2000s 8,093 5,772 2,321 Singapore
2010s 9,453 6,493 2,960 Singapore
2020s 12,026 7,651 4,376 Singapore

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patent applications, nonresidents, Singapore or South Africa?
Singapore, at 12,566 against 9,156 in South Africa as of 2021.
What is the difference in patent applications, nonresidents between Singapore and South Africa?
3,410, with Singapore ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Singapore and South Africa?
32 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
How do Singapore and South Africa rank globally for patent applications, nonresidents?
Singapore ranks 12th and South Africa ranks 14th of 150 countries.
Where does this data come from?
WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans, published as Patent applications, nonresidents. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Singapore vs South Africa: Patent applications, nonresidents. Statizoid, drawing on WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patent-applications-nonresidents/singapore/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Patent applications, nonresidents
Source
WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
162 places, 4,548 data points, 1980–2021
Last refreshed

Patent applications are worldwide patent applications filed through the Patent Cooperation Treaty procedure or with a national patent office for exclusive rights for an invention--a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem. A patent provides protection for the invention to the owner of the patent for a limited period, generally 20 years.