Annual patent applications in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Annual patent applications was 11,592 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Annual patent applications in United Kingdom, 1980–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 11,592 for annual patent applications in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in United Kingdom peaked at 22,050 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11,592, in 2021.
That places United Kingdom 9th out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19,986 | 19,093 | 20,808 | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,011 | 17,938 | 21,333 | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,890 | 15,985 | 22,050 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,334 | 12,061 | 15,490 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,791 | 11,592 | 11,990 | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More science & technology data for United Kingdom
- Scientific and technical journal articles 97,536 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 121.64 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 121.64 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 7,263 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 95.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 11,592 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 2.7% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 21,623 Thousand persons (2019)
- Number of people using the Internet 65.09 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in United Kingdom?
- Annual patent applications in United Kingdom was 11,592 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 22,050 in 2000.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,592 in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for annual patent applications?
- United Kingdom ranks 9th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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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