Annual patent applications in Malawi
Malawi: Annual patent applications was 3 in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2016)
3
Change on year
down 50.0%
World rank
119th
of 135 countries
All-time high
7
in 1981
All-time low
1
in 1983
Years of data
18
1980–2016
Annual patent applications in Malawi, 1980–2016
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 3 for annual patent applications in 2016.
That represents a change of down 50.0% on the previous year.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Malawi peaked at 7 in 1981 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1983.
That places Malawi 119th out of 135 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual patent applications in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2 | — |
| 1981 | 7 | +250.0% |
| 1982 | 3 | -57.1% |
| 1983 | 1 | -66.7% |
| 1988 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1993 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 1994 | 1 | -66.7% |
| 1995 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1997 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 2000 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 2015 | 6 | +100.0% |
| 2016 | 3 | -50.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3 is below the median for low income countries, which is 14, 21% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8, 38% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.5 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| 1990s | 1.67 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 2000s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.5 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More science & technology data for Malawi
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 69.26 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.6926 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 15.00 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 136.74 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 13.38 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 16.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 377.51 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Malawi?
- Annual patent applications in Malawi was 3 in 2016, 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1981.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1983.
- How does Malawi rank for annual patent applications?
- Malawi ranks 119th out of 135 countries with data for 2016.
- Where does this Malawi 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
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