Annual patent applications in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Annual patent applications was 266 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
266
Change on year
down 24.6%
World rank
56th
of 135 countries
All-time high
356
in 2019
All-time low
6
in 1981
Years of data
40
1980–2021
Annual patent applications in Sri Lanka, 1980–2021
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 Sri Lanka is 266, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 24.6% on the previous year and up 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Sri Lanka peaked at 356 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6, in 1981.
That places Sri Lanka 56th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 11 | — |
| 1981 | 6 | -45.5% |
| 1982 | 12 | +100.0% |
| 1983 | 16 | +33.3% |
| 1984 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 28 | +75.0% |
| 1986 | 26 | -7.1% |
| 1987 | 41 | +57.7% |
| 1988 | 26 | -36.6% |
| 1989 | 28 | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 23 | -17.9% |
| 1991 | 33 | +43.5% |
| 1992 | 36 | +9.1% |
| 1993 | 49 | +36.1% |
| 1994 | 36 | -26.5% |
| 1995 | 76 | +111.1% |
| 1996 | 50 | -34.2% |
| 1997 | 81 | +62.0% |
| 1998 | 54 | -33.3% |
| 1999 | 119 | +120.4% |
| 2000 | 71 | -40.3% |
| 2001 | 120 | +69.0% |
| 2002 | 123 | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 95 | -22.8% |
| 2004 | 120 | +26.3% |
| 2005 | 149 | +24.2% |
| 2006 | 153 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 151 | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 201 | +33.1% |
| 2009 | 202 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 225 | +11.4% |
| 2011 | 194 | -13.8% |
| 2013 | 328 | +69.1% |
| 2015 | 218 | -33.5% |
| 2016 | 280 | +28.4% |
| 2017 | 277 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 343 | +23.8% |
| 2019 | 356 | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 353 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 266 | -24.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 266 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 109, 2.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 266 is above the median for South Asia, which is 74, 3.6× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21 | 6 | 41 | 10 |
| 1990s | 55.7 | 23 | 119 | 10 |
| 2000s | 138.5 | 71 | 202 | 10 |
| 2010s | 277.62 | 194 | 356 | 8 |
| 2020s | 309.5 | 266 | 353 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More science & technology data for Sri Lanka
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 132.55 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.4 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 30.62 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 528.35 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -6.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -6.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 2,322 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Sri Lanka?
- Annual patent applications in Sri Lanka was 266 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 356 in 2019.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 in 1981.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for annual patent applications?
- Sri Lanka ranks 56th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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