Life science patents granted, by technology in France
France: Life science patents granted, by technology was 87 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in France, 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 France is 87 patents, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.4% on the previous year and down 62.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in France peaked at 731 patents in 1980 and was at its lowest, 87 patents, in 2023.
That places France 17th out of 65 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Life science patents granted, by technology in France, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 731 patents | — |
| 1981 | 439 patents | -39.9% |
| 1982 | 349 patents | -20.5% |
| 1983 | 552 patents | +58.2% |
| 1984 | 335 patents | -39.3% |
| 1985 | 360 patents | +7.5% |
| 1986 | 305 patents | -15.3% |
| 1987 | 235 patents | -23.0% |
| 1988 | 257 patents | +9.4% |
| 1989 | 202 patents | -21.4% |
| 1990 | 224 patents | +10.9% |
| 1991 | 212 patents | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 144 patents | -32.1% |
| 1993 | 148 patents | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 310 patents | +109.5% |
| 1995 | 392 patents | +26.5% |
| 1996 | 226 patents | -42.3% |
| 1997 | 259 patents | +14.6% |
| 1998 | 207 patents | -20.1% |
| 1999 | 162 patents | -21.7% |
| 2000 | 175 patents | +8.0% |
| 2001 | 216 patents | +23.4% |
| 2002 | 197 patents | -8.8% |
| 2003 | 231 patents | +17.3% |
| 2004 | 308 patents | +33.3% |
| 2005 | 203 patents | -34.1% |
| 2006 | 284 patents | +39.9% |
| 2007 | 271 patents | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 250 patents | -7.7% |
| 2009 | 184 patents | -26.4% |
| 2010 | 207 patents | +12.5% |
| 2011 | 190 patents | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 296 patents | +55.8% |
| 2013 | 229 patents | -22.6% |
| 2014 | 145 patents | -36.7% |
| 2015 | 148 patents | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 113 patents | -23.6% |
| 2017 | 117 patents | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 110 patents | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 143 patents | +30.0% |
| 2020 | 181 patents | +26.6% |
| 2021 | 126 patents | -30.4% |
| 2022 | 94 patents | -25.4% |
| 2023 | 87 patents | -7.4% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 87 patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 6.2× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- France's 87 patents is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.5 patents, 11.6× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 376.5 patents | 202 patents | 731 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 228.4 patents | 144 patents | 392 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 231.9 patents | 175 patents | 308 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 169.8 patents | 110 patents | 296 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 122 patents | 87 patents | 181 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
- 14 Mexico 106 patents compare
- 15 Netherlands 101 patents compare
- 15 United Kingdom 101 patents compare
- 18 Luxembourg 78 patents compare
- 19 Poland 68 patents compare
- 20 Montenegro 58 patents compare
More science & technology data for France
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 116.69 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.13 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 77.53 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 143.85 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.6356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.8809 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 62,180 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0009 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in France?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in France was 87 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 731 patents in 1980.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 87 patents in 2023.
- How does France rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- France ranks 17th out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.
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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.