Singapore vs South Africa: Patent applications, residents

Singapore
2,024
in 2021
South Africa
1,804
in 2021
Singapore rank
19th
South Africa rank
21st

Patent applications, residents over time

  • Singapore
  • South Africa
02.0k4.0k6.0k198020002021

How they compare

Singapore currently reports 2,024 against 1,804 in South Africa, a difference of 220.

That makes Singapore's figure about 1.1 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 19th and South Africa ranks 21st of 135 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Singapore averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade Singapore South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 3.8 3,719 3,716 South Africa
1990s 268.4 466.6 198.2 South Africa
2000s 636.5 918.8 282.3 South Africa
2010s 1,346 707 638.9 Singapore
2020s 1,901 1,173 728 Singapore

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patent applications, residents, Singapore or South Africa?
Singapore, at 2,024 against 1,804 in South Africa as of 2021.
What is the difference in patent applications, residents between Singapore and South Africa?
220, 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, residents?
Singapore ranks 19th and South Africa ranks 21st of 135 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, residents. 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, residents. 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 24 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patent-applications-residents/singapore/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Patent applications, residents
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
147 places, 4,224 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.