Annual patent applications in Iceland
Iceland: Annual patent applications was 34 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Annual patent applications in Iceland, 1980–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual patent applications in Iceland is 34, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 22.7% on the previous year and down 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Iceland peaked at 71 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 14, in 1981.
That places Iceland 88th out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.3 | 14 | 32 | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.8 | 16 | 41 | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.1 | 45 | 71 | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.2 | 33 | 57 | 10 |
| 2020s | 39 | 34 | 44 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More science & technology data for Iceland
- Scientific and technical journal articles 715.97 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 475,724 (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 120.93 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 120.93 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 2 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 98.2% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 34 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 2.6% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 139.9 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 371,481 users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Iceland?
- Annual patent applications in Iceland was 34 in 2021, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual patent applications recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 71 in 2002.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 14 in 1981.
- How does Iceland rank for annual patent applications?
- Iceland ranks 88th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual patent applications. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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