Annual patent applications in Ireland
Ireland: Annual patent applications was 75 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
75
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
76th
of 135 countries
All-time high
786
in 1991
All-time low
58
in 2019
Years of data
18
1980–2021
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 countries 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.
Annual patent applications in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 394 | — |
| 1981 | 461 | +17.0% |
| 1982 | 434 | -5.9% |
| 1983 | 567 | +30.6% |
| 1984 | 651 | +14.8% |
| 1985 | 726 | +11.5% |
| 1986 | 743 | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 719 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 727 | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 736 | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 734 | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 786 | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 79 | -89.9% |
| 2017 | 62 | -21.5% |
| 2018 | 76 | +22.6% |
| 2019 | 58 | -23.7% |
| 2020 | 75 | +29.3% |
| 2021 | 75 | +0.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 75 is below the median for high income countries, which is 397.5, 19% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 75 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 276, 27% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
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
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 112.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.1 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 5.92 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 83.58 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 8,720 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0016 units per person (2023)
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 countries 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.
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