Annual patent applications in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Annual patent applications was 1,398 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications in Saudi Arabia, 1989–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual patent applications in Saudi Arabia is 1,398, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.0% on the previous year and up 302.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Saudi Arabia peaked at 1,398 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12, in 1989.
That places Saudi Arabia 25th out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual patent applications in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 12 | — |
| 1990 | 16 | +33.3% |
| 1991 | 27 | +68.8% |
| 1992 | 21 | -22.2% |
| 1993 | 21 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 33 | +57.1% |
| 1995 | 28 | -15.2% |
| 1996 | 27 | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 57 | +111.1% |
| 1998 | 45 | -21.1% |
| 1999 | 72 | +60.0% |
| 2000 | 76 | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 46 | -39.5% |
| 2002 | 61 | +32.6% |
| 2003 | 56 | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 81 | +44.6% |
| 2005 | 119 | +46.9% |
| 2006 | 119 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 128 | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 288 | +125.0% |
| 2011 | 347 | +20.5% |
| 2013 | 491 | +41.5% |
| 2014 | 652 | +32.8% |
| 2015 | 715 | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 1,070 | +49.7% |
| 2017 | 909 | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 1,078 | +18.6% |
| 2019 | 1,188 | +10.2% |
| 2020 | 1,294 | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 1,398 | +8.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 1,398 is above the median for high income countries, which is 397.5, 3.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 1,398 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 141, 9.9× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 1 |
| 1990s | 34.7 | 16 | 72 | 10 |
| 2000s | 85.75 | 46 | 128 | 8 |
| 2010s | 748.67 | 288 | 1,188 | 9 |
| 2020s | 1,346 | 1,294 | 1,398 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More science & technology data for Saudi Arabia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 159.54 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.53 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 54.18 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 24.41 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 24,595 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0007 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Saudi Arabia?
- Annual patent applications in Saudi Arabia was 1,398 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,398 in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12 in 1989.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for annual patent applications?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 25th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 302.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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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