Ireland vs South Africa: Patent applications to the EPO by priority year by NACE Rev. 2

Ireland
2.61 Number
in 2013
South Africa
3.14 Number
in 2012
Ireland rank
27th
South Africa rank
24th

Patent applications to the EPO by priority year by NACE Rev. 2 over time

  • Ireland
  • South Africa
012345197919962013

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 3.14 Number against 2.61 Number in Ireland, a difference of 0.53 Number.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Ireland's.

The two have swapped places 14 times across 28 shared years of data; in 1983 it was South Africa ahead.

Ireland ranks 27th and South Africa ranks 24th of 56 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Ireland averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Ireland South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 0.7785 Number 1.15 Number 0.3697 Number South Africa
1990s 1.57 Number 1.35 Number 0.2154 Number Ireland
2000s 3.18 Number 1.82 Number 1.36 Number Ireland
2010s 2.6 Number 2.06 Number 0.5333 Number Ireland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patent applications to the epo by priority year by nace rev. 2, Ireland or South Africa?
South Africa, at 3.14 Number against 2.61 Number in Ireland as of 2012.
What is the difference in patent applications to the epo by priority year by nace rev. 2 between Ireland and South Africa?
0.53 Number, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ireland and South Africa?
28 years are reported by both, from 1983 to 2012.
How do Ireland and South Africa rank globally for patent applications to the epo by priority year by nace rev. 2?
Ireland ranks 27th and South Africa ranks 24th of 56 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Eurostat, published as Patent applications to the EPO by priority year by NACE Rev. 2 activity (1977-2012). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ireland vs South Africa: Patent applications to the EPO by priority year by NACE Rev. 2. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patent-applications-to-the-epo-by-priority-year-by-nace-rev-2-activity-1977-2012/ireland/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Patent applications to the EPO by priority year by NACE Rev. 2 activity (1977-2012)
Unit
Number
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
62 places, 1,513 data points, 1977–2013
Last refreshed