Life science patents granted, by technology in Belgium
Belgium: Life science patents granted, by technology was 25 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in Belgium, 1980–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life science patents granted, by technology in Belgium is 25 patents, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2,400.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Belgium peaked at 278 patents in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1 patents, in 2014.
That places Belgium 27th out of 65 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Life science patents granted, by technology in Belgium, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 278 patents | — |
| 1981 | 220 patents | -20.9% |
| 1982 | 165 patents | -25.0% |
| 1983 | 164 patents | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 129 patents | -21.3% |
| 1985 | 132 patents | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 92 patents | -30.3% |
| 1987 | 44 patents | -52.2% |
| 2014 | 1 patents | -97.7% |
| 2015 | 17 patents | +1600.0% |
| 2016 | 35 patents | +105.9% |
| 2017 | 26 patents | -25.7% |
| 2018 | 31 patents | +19.2% |
| 2019 | 12 patents | -61.3% |
| 2020 | 26 patents | +116.7% |
| 2021 | 17 patents | -34.6% |
| 2022 | 25 patents | +47.1% |
| 2023 | 25 patents | +0.0% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 25 patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 1.8× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 25 patents is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.5 patents, 3.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +1600.0% | 1 patents | 17 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 153 patents | 44 patents | 278 patents | 8 |
| 2010s | 20.33 patents | 1 patents | 35 patents | 6 |
| 2020s | 23.25 patents | 17 patents | 26 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More science & technology data for Belgium
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 103.91 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.03 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 12.20 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 396.38 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.687 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.9084 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 16,816 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Belgium?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Belgium was 25 patents in 2023, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 278 patents in 1980.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 patents in 2014.
- How does Belgium rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Belgium ranks 27th out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,400.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Life science patents granted, by technology. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.