Annual patent applications in Portugal
Portugal: Annual patent applications was 711 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
711
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
40th
of 135 countries
All-time high
925
in 2015
All-time low
54
in 1988
Years of data
42
1980–2021
Annual patent applications in Portugal, 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 Portugal stood at 711.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Portugal peaked at 925 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 54, in 1988.
That places Portugal 40th 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 92 | — |
| 1981 | 90 | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 92 | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 91 | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 96 | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 85 | -11.5% |
| 1986 | 77 | -9.4% |
| 1987 | 61 | -20.8% |
| 1988 | 54 | -11.5% |
| 1989 | 86 | +59.3% |
| 1990 | 101 | +17.4% |
| 1991 | 102 | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 69 | -32.4% |
| 1993 | 88 | +27.5% |
| 1994 | 103 | +17.0% |
| 1995 | 81 | -21.4% |
| 1996 | 86 | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 71 | -17.4% |
| 1998 | 96 | +35.2% |
| 1999 | 81 | -15.6% |
| 2000 | 81 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 107 | +32.1% |
| 2002 | 130 | +21.5% |
| 2003 | 125 | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 123 | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 158 | +28.5% |
| 2006 | 184 | +16.5% |
| 2007 | 250 | +35.9% |
| 2008 | 381 | +52.4% |
| 2009 | 571 | +49.9% |
| 2010 | 499 | -12.6% |
| 2011 | 571 | +14.4% |
| 2012 | 621 | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 647 | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 722 | +11.6% |
| 2015 | 925 | +28.1% |
| 2016 | 724 | -21.7% |
| 2017 | 644 | -11.0% |
| 2018 | 661 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 703 | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 695 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 711 | +2.3% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 711 is above the median for high income countries, which is 397.5, 1.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 711 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 276, 2.6× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 82.4 | 54 | 96 | 10 |
| 1990s | 87.8 | 69 | 103 | 10 |
| 2000s | 211 | 81 | 571 | 10 |
| 2010s | 671.7 | 499 | 925 | 10 |
| 2020s | 703 | 695 | 711 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More science & technology data for Portugal
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 124.13 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.21 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 12.94 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 140.06 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.9171 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.8644 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 18,225 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0017 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Portugal?
- Annual patent applications in Portugal was 711 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 925 in 2015.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 54 in 1988.
- How does Portugal rank for annual patent applications?
- Portugal ranks 40th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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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