Annual patent applications in Norway
Norway: Annual patent applications was 946 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Annual patent applications in Norway, 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 Norway stood at 946.
The figure is up 7.5% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Norway peaked at 1,335 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 693, in 1982.
That places Norway 33rd out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Annual patent applications in Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 716 | — |
| 1981 | 714 | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 693 | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 825 | +19.0% |
| 1984 | 961 | +16.5% |
| 1985 | 923 | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 903 | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 884 | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 904 | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 1,015 | +12.3% |
| 1990 | 899 | -11.4% |
| 1991 | 924 | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 941 | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 1,031 | +9.6% |
| 1994 | 1,074 | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 1,128 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 1,291 | +14.5% |
| 1997 | 1,256 | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 1,213 | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 1,335 | +10.1% |
| 2000 | 1,311 | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 1,189 | -9.3% |
| 2002 | 1,178 | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 1,079 | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 1,142 | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 1,143 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 1,119 | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 1,225 | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 1,150 | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 1,246 | +8.3% |
| 2010 | 1,117 | -10.4% |
| 2011 | 1,122 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 1,009 | -10.1% |
| 2013 | 1,101 | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 1,106 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 1,153 | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 1,227 | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 1,152 | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 1,082 | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 957 | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 880 | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 946 | +7.5% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 946 is above the median for high income countries, which is 397.5, 2.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Norway's 946 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 276, 3.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 853.8 | 693 | 1,015 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,109 | 899 | 1,335 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,178 | 1,079 | 1,311 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,103 | 957 | 1,227 | 10 |
| 2020s | 913 | 880 | 946 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More science & technology data for Norway
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 109.35 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.09 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 6.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 16.61 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.2781 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.7601 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 13,756 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0025 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Norway?
- Annual patent applications in Norway was 946 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 1,335 in 1999.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 693 in 1982.
- How does Norway rank for annual patent applications?
- Norway ranks 33rd out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway 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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