Annual patent applications in Sweden
Sweden: Annual patent applications was 1,771 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Annual patent applications in Sweden, 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 Sweden is 1,771, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Sweden peaked at 4,283 in 1983 and was at its lowest, 1,764, in 2020.
That places Sweden 22nd out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,781 | 3,147 | 4,283 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,756 | 3,108 | 4,142 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,953 | 2,186 | 4,224 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,051 | 1,802 | 2,332 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,768 | 1,764 | 1,771 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More science & technology data for Sweden
- Scientific and technical journal articles 21,244 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 14.92 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 140.69 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 140.69 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 425 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 95.8% (2025)
- Patent applications, residents 1,771 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 3.6% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 3,915 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 9.86 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Sweden?
- Annual patent applications in Sweden was 1,771 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 4,283 in 1983.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,764 in 2020.
- How does Sweden rank for annual patent applications?
- Sweden ranks 22nd out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).