South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Patent applications, nonresidents

South Africa
9,156
in 2021
Sub-Saharan Africa
8,160
in 2020
South Africa rank
14th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
11th

Patent applications, nonresidents over time

  • South Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
2.0k4.0k6.0k8.0k10.0k198020002021

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 9,156 against 8,160 in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 996.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

Across all 41 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 14th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 11th of 150 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 5,454 6,188 733.3 Sub-Saharan Africa
1990s 5,198 5,724 526 Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s 5,772 6,408 636.4 Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s 6,493 8,194 1,701 Sub-Saharan Africa
2020s 6,146 8,160 2,014 Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patent applications, nonresidents, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa?
South Africa, at 9,156 against 8,160 in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2021.
What is the difference in patent applications, nonresidents between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?
996, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?
41 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2020.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for patent applications, nonresidents?
South Africa ranks 14th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 11th 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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South Africa vs Sub-Saharan 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 01 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patent-applications-nonresidents/south-africa/sub-saharan-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.