Annual patent applications in Malta
Malta: Annual patent applications was 5 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
5
Change on year
down 16.7%
Rank
114th
of 135 regions
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 regions on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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 | 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
- Scientific and technical journal articles 497.77 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 766,620 (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 142.07 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 142.07 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 5 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 93.9% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 5 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.6% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 184.8 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 458,677 users (2021)
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 regions 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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