Annual patent applications in Zambia
Zambia: Annual patent applications was 13 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications in Zambia, 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 Zambia stood at 13.
The figure is down 23.5% on the previous year and up 333.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Zambia peaked at 26 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1981.
That places Zambia 102nd out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual patent applications in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1982 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 7 | +600.0% |
| 1989 | 3 | -57.1% |
| 1990 | 7 | +133.3% |
| 1991 | 1 | -85.7% |
| 1992 | 7 | +600.0% |
| 1993 | 4 | -42.9% |
| 1995 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 6 | +50.0% |
| 1999 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2001 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2002 | 3 | -50.0% |
| 2003 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1 | -66.7% |
| 2005 | 5 | +400.0% |
| 2006 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2007 | 19 | +375.0% |
| 2008 | 26 | +36.8% |
| 2009 | 9 | -65.4% |
| 2010 | 5 | -44.4% |
| 2011 | 3 | -40.0% |
| 2012 | 7 | +133.3% |
| 2013 | 13 | +85.7% |
| 2014 | 14 | +7.7% |
| 2015 | 20 | +42.9% |
| 2016 | 15 | -25.0% |
| 2017 | 12 | -20.0% |
| 2018 | 11 | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 2 | -81.8% |
| 2020 | 17 | +750.0% |
| 2021 | 13 | -23.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 13 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47, 28% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 13 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8, 1.6× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual patent applications in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +750.0% | 2 | 17 |
| 1988 | +600.0% | 1 | 7 |
| 1992 | +600.0% | 1 | 7 |
| 2005 | +400.0% | 1 | 5 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.5 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| 1990s | 4.86 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| 2000s | 8.44 | 1 | 26 | 9 |
| 2010s | 10.2 | 2 | 20 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15 | 13 | 17 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More science & technology data for Zambia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 108.7 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.09 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 23.17 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 28.45 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 6.51 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 9.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 367.3 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Zambia?
- Annual patent applications in Zambia was 13 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 26 in 2008.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1981.
- How does Zambia rank for annual patent applications?
- Zambia ranks 102nd out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 333.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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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