Life science patents granted, by technology by country
Number of pharmaceutical patents granted by the filing office in a given year. Pharmaceutical patents typically cover new drugs, biological treatments or vaccines.
Countries reporting
65
Highest
14,477 patents
China
Lowest
1 patents
Malta
Median
16 patents
Years covered
44
1980β2023
Data points
2,044
What the numbers show
Life science patents granted, by technology is currently reported for 65 countries. The highest value is 14,477 patents in China; the lowest is 1 patents in Malta.
The median across all reporting countries is 16 patents, and the mean is 561.77 patents.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 14,477.
Over the past decade 22 countries rose and 41 fell. The largest increase was in Belgium (up 2,400.0%), and the largest decrease in Ukraine (down 99.8%).
Life science patents granted, by technology: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 14,477 patents | 2023 | up 39.6% | volatile |
| 2 | United States | 6,365 patents | 2023 | down 8.4% | volatile |
| 3 | Japan | 4,732 patents | 2023 | up 10.0% | volatile |
| 4 | South Korea | 2,686 patents | 2023 | up 11.9% | volatile |
| 5 | Canada | 2,144 patents | 2023 | up 5.6% | volatile |
| 6 | Australia | 1,746 patents | 2023 | down 21.9% | rising |
| 7 | India | 836 patents | 2023 | up 303.9% | volatile |
| 8 | Brazil | 764 patents | 2023 | up 600.9% | volatile |
| 9 | USSR | 441 patents | 1991 | up 18.2% | rising |
| 10 | Russia | 433 patents | 2022 | down 72.6% | rising |
| 11 | Malaysia | 343 patents | 2023 | up 53.8% | volatile |
| 12 | Serbia | 277 patents | 2023 | up 91.0% | volatile |
| 13 | Morocco | 131 patents | 2023 | down 28.0% | volatile |
| 14 | Mexico | 106 patents | 2020 | up 2,020.0% | volatile |
| 15 | United Kingdom | 101 patents | 2023 | up 134.9% | volatile |
| 15 | Netherlands | 101 patents | 2023 | up 1,162.5% | volatile |
| 17 | France | 87 patents | 2023 | down 62.0% | volatile |
| 18 | Luxembourg | 78 patents | 2023 | up 1,850.0% | volatile |
| 19 | Poland | 68 patents | 2023 | down 52.4% | volatile |
| 20 | Montenegro | 58 patents | 2021 | down 59.4% | volatile |
| 21 | Hong Kong | 54 patents | 2020 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 21 | Singapore | 54 patents | 1995 | down 26.0% | rising |
| 23 | Argentina | 52 patents | 1995 | up 147.6% | volatile |
| 24 | Nicaragua | 36 patents | 2021 | down 62.5% | volatile |
| 25 | Georgia | 31 patents | 2023 | down 56.3% | rising |
| 26 | Spain | 30 patents | 2023 | down 73.9% | volatile |
| 27 | Belgium | 25 patents | 2023 | up 2,400.0% | volatile |
| 28 | Jordan | 23 patents | 2023 | up 666.7% | volatile |
| 29 | Czechia | 21 patents | 2023 | down 64.4% | volatile |
| 30 | Germany | 18 patents | 2023 | down 28.0% | volatile |
| 31 | Cuba | 17 patents | 2023 | down 56.4% | volatile |
| 32 | Norway | 16 patents | 2023 | down 91.0% | rising |
| 32 | Greece | 16 patents | 2023 | down 11.1% | volatile |
| 34 | Moldova | 15 patents | 2023 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 35 | Kenya | 14 patents | 1989 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 35 | Romania | 14 patents | 2023 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 35 | Saudi Arabia | 14 patents | 2023 | down 53.3% | volatile |
| 38 | Hungary | 10 patents | 2023 | down 97.1% | volatile |
| 39 | Bulgaria | 8 patents | 2023 | down 74.2% | volatile |
| 40 | Philippines | 7 patents | 2020 | up 600.0% | volatile |
| 40 | Sweden | 7 patents | 2023 | up 133.3% | volatile |
| 42 | Switzerland | 6 patents | 2023 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 42 | Denmark | 6 patents | 2023 | down 14.3% | volatile |
| 42 | Egypt | 6 patents | 2015 | down 40.0% | volatile |
| 45 | Latvia | 4 patents | 2023 | down 50.0% | volatile |
| 45 | Finland | 4 patents | 2023 | down 20.0% | volatile |
| 45 | Tajikistan | 4 patents | 2012 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 48 | Iceland | 3 patents | 2021 | down 90.0% | volatile |
| 48 | Ireland | 3 patents | 2023 | down 40.0% | volatile |
| 48 | Turkey | 3 patents | 1997 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 48 | Slovakia | 3 patents | 2023 | down 90.0% | volatile |
| 52 | South Africa | 2 patents | 2023 | down 99.5% | volatile |
| 52 | Austria | 2 patents | 2023 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 52 | Portugal | 2 patents | 2023 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 55 | Croatia | 1 patents | 2023 | down 98.5% | volatile |
| 55 | Zimbabwe | 1 patents | 1995 | down 95.8% | falling |
| 55 | Ukraine | 1 patents | 2023 | down 99.8% | volatile |
| 55 | Estonia | 1 patents | 2018 | down 98.2% | volatile |
| 55 | Slovenia | 1 patents | 2023 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 55 | Mongolia | 1 patents | 1989 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 55 | Israel | 1 patents | 2023 | down 98.3% | volatile |
| 55 | Italy | 1 patents | 2015 | unchanged | volatile |
| 55 | Lithuania | 1 patents | 2023 | down 50.0% | volatile |
| 55 | Monaco | 1 patents | 2020 | unchanged | volatile |
| 55 | Malta | 1 patents | 1991 | down 50.0% | falling |
About this data
Number of pharmaceutical patents granted by the filing office in a given year. Pharmaceutical patents typically cover new drugs, biological treatments or vaccines.