Annual patent applications in Ireland
Ireland: Annual patent applications was 75 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications in Ireland, 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 Ireland is 75, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Ireland peaked at 786 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 58, in 2019.
That places Ireland 76th out of 135 regions with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 615.8 | 394 | 743 | 10 |
| 1990s | 760 | 734 | 786 | 2 |
| 2010s | 68.75 | 58 | 79 | 4 |
| 2020s | 75 | 75 | 75 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 73 Kyrgyzstan 83 compare
- 74 Lithuania 81 compare
- 75 Croatia 77 compare
- 77 Bangladesh 74 compare
- 78 Barbados 73 compare
- 79 United Arab Emirates 69 compare
More science & technology data for Ireland
- Scientific and technical journal articles 8,720 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 5.92 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 112.64 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 112.64 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 42 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 97.2% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 75 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.6% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 2,099 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 4.70 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Ireland?
- Annual patent applications in Ireland was 75 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 786 in 1991.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 58 in 2019.
- How does Ireland rank for annual patent applications?
- Ireland ranks 76th out of 135 regions with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).