Life science patents granted, by technology in Denmark
Denmark: Life science patents granted, by technology was 6 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in Denmark, 1980–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
Denmark recorded 6 patents for life science patents granted, by technology in 2023.
The figure is up 100.0% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Denmark peaked at 299 patents in 1993 and was at its lowest, 2 patents, in 2010.
That places Denmark 42nd 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 Denmark, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 77 patents | — |
| 1981 | 70 patents | -9.1% |
| 1982 | 74 patents | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 64 patents | -13.5% |
| 1984 | 57 patents | -10.9% |
| 1985 | 52 patents | -8.8% |
| 1986 | 61 patents | +17.3% |
| 1987 | 77 patents | +26.2% |
| 1988 | 132 patents | +71.4% |
| 1989 | 173 patents | +31.1% |
| 1990 | 178 patents | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 219 patents | +23.0% |
| 1992 | 276 patents | +26.0% |
| 1993 | 299 patents | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 173 patents | -42.1% |
| 1995 | 115 patents | -33.5% |
| 1996 | 81 patents | -29.6% |
| 1997 | 55 patents | -32.1% |
| 1998 | 30 patents | -45.5% |
| 1999 | 60 patents | +100.0% |
| 2000 | 40 patents | -33.3% |
| 2001 | 37 patents | -7.5% |
| 2002 | 36 patents | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 41 patents | +13.9% |
| 2004 | 172 patents | +319.5% |
| 2005 | 82 patents | -52.3% |
| 2006 | 11 patents | -86.6% |
| 2007 | 7 patents | -36.4% |
| 2008 | 4 patents | -42.9% |
| 2009 | 3 patents | -25.0% |
| 2010 | 2 patents | -33.3% |
| 2011 | 2 patents | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 4 patents | +100.0% |
| 2013 | 7 patents | +75.0% |
| 2014 | 2 patents | -71.4% |
| 2015 | 3 patents | +50.0% |
| 2016 | 6 patents | +100.0% |
| 2017 | 5 patents | -16.7% |
| 2018 | 2 patents | -60.0% |
| 2019 | 8 patents | +300.0% |
| 2020 | 5 patents | -37.5% |
| 2021 | 5 patents | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3 patents | -40.0% |
| 2023 | 6 patents | +100.0% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 6 patents is below the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 43% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 6 patents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.5 patents, 80% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in Denmark 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +319.5% | 41 patents | 172 patents |
| 2019 | +300.0% | 2 patents | 8 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 83.7 patents | 52 patents | 173 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 148.6 patents | 30 patents | 299 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.3 patents | 3 patents | 172 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1 patents | 2 patents | 8 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.75 patents | 3 patents | 6 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More science & technology data for Denmark
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 126.69 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.27 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 7.57 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 188.43 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.0237 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.4681 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 15,603 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0026 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Denmark?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Denmark was 6 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 299 patents in 1993.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 patents in 2010.
- How does Denmark rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Denmark ranks 42nd out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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 — 44 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.