Annual patent applications in Malta
Malta: Annual patent applications was 5 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
5
Change on year
down 16.7%
World rank
114th
of 135 countries
All-time high
26
in 2001
All-time low
2
in 1989
Years of data
36
1980–2021
Annual patent applications in Malta, 1980–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, annual patent applications in Malta stood at 5.
The figure is down 16.7% on the previous year and down 44.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Malta peaked at 26 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 2, in 1989.
Malta ranks 114th of 135 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual patent applications in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7 | — |
| 1981 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 1982 | 3 | -50.0% |
| 1983 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 1986 | 5 | +25.0% |
| 1987 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3 | -40.0% |
| 1989 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 1990 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 6 | +200.0% |
| 1992 | 3 | -50.0% |
| 1993 | 8 | +166.7% |
| 1994 | 21 | +162.5% |
| 1995 | 11 | -47.6% |
| 1996 | 6 | -45.5% |
| 1997 | 22 | +266.7% |
| 1998 | 8 | -63.6% |
| 1999 | 11 | +37.5% |
| 2000 | 23 | +109.1% |
| 2001 | 26 | +13.0% |
| 2002 | 22 | -15.4% |
| 2007 | 10 | -54.5% |
| 2008 | 14 | +40.0% |
| 2009 | 8 | -42.9% |
| 2010 | 12 | +50.0% |
| 2011 | 9 | -25.0% |
| 2012 | 11 | +22.2% |
| 2013 | 13 | +18.2% |
| 2014 | 5 | -61.5% |
| 2015 | 9 | +80.0% |
| 2016 | 3 | -66.7% |
| 2017 | 5 | +66.7% |
| 2018 | 2 | -60.0% |
| 2019 | 5 | +150.0% |
| 2020 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2021 | 5 | -16.7% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 5 is below the median for high income countries, which is 397.5, 1% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malta's 5 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 141, 4% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.38 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
| 1990s | 9.8 | 2 | 22 | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.17 | 8 | 26 | 6 |
| 2010s | 7.4 | 2 | 13 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More science & technology data for Malta
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 142.07 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.35 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 766,620 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 2,342 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 497.77 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0009 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Malta?
- Annual patent applications in Malta was 5 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 26 in 2001.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1989.
- How does Malta rank for annual patent applications?
- Malta ranks 114th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta 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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