Life science patents granted, by technology in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Life science patents granted, by technology was 54 patents in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in Hong Kong, 1998–2020
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
In 2020, life science patents granted, by technology in Hong Kong stood at 54 patents.
That represents a change of up 125.0% on the previous year and up 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Hong Kong peaked at 257 patents in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1 patents, in 1998.
That places Hong Kong 21st out of 65 countries with data for 2020, 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 Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 patents | — |
| 2001 | 1 patents | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7 patents | +600.0% |
| 2003 | 38 patents | +442.9% |
| 2004 | 106 patents | +178.9% |
| 2005 | 257 patents | +142.5% |
| 2006 | 136 patents | -47.1% |
| 2007 | 69 patents | -49.3% |
| 2008 | 47 patents | -31.9% |
| 2009 | 36 patents | -23.4% |
| 2010 | 27 patents | -25.0% |
| 2011 | 17 patents | -37.0% |
| 2012 | 5 patents | -70.6% |
| 2013 | 6 patents | +20.0% |
| 2014 | 5 patents | -16.7% |
| 2015 | 3 patents | -40.0% |
| 2016 | 1 patents | -66.7% |
| 2017 | 16 patents | +1500.0% |
| 2018 | 3 patents | -81.2% |
| 2019 | 24 patents | +700.0% |
| 2020 | 54 patents | +125.0% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 54 patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 3.9× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 54 patents is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 343 patents, 16% of the median. (9 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in Hong Kong 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +1500.0% | 1 patents | 16 patents |
| 2019 | +700.0% | 3 patents | 24 patents |
| 2002 | +600.0% | 1 patents | 7 patents |
| 2003 | +442.9% | 7 patents | 38 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1 patents | 1 patents | 1 patents | 1 |
| 2000s | 77.44 patents | 1 patents | 257 patents | 9 |
| 2010s | 10.7 patents | 1 patents | 27 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 54 patents | 54 patents | 54 patents | 1 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
- 18 Luxembourg 78 patents compare
- 19 Poland 68 patents compare
- 20 Montenegro 58 patents compare
- 21 Singapore 54 patents
- 23 Argentina 52 patents
- 24 Nicaragua 36 patents compare
More science & technology data for Hong Kong
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 364.85 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 3.6 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 27.05 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 22,647 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 14.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 13.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 15,445 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 15,445 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Hong Kong?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Hong Kong was 54 patents in 2020, 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 257 patents in 2005.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 patents in 1998.
- How does Hong Kong rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Hong Kong ranks 21st out of 65 countries with data for 2020.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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.