Life science patents granted, by technology in Ireland
Ireland: Life science patents granted, by technology was 3 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in Ireland, 1980–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
In 2023, life science patents granted, by technology in Ireland stood at 3 patents.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 50.0% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Ireland peaked at 694 patents in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1 patents, in 2001.
Ireland ranks 48th of 65 countries on this measure, 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 158 patents | — |
| 1981 | 169 patents | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 185 patents | +9.5% |
| 1983 | 182 patents | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 165 patents | -9.3% |
| 1985 | 207 patents | +25.5% |
| 1986 | 230 patents | +11.1% |
| 1987 | 155 patents | -32.6% |
| 1988 | 120 patents | -22.6% |
| 1989 | 130 patents | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 107 patents | -17.7% |
| 1991 | 129 patents | +20.6% |
| 1992 | 74 patents | -42.6% |
| 1993 | 353 patents | +377.0% |
| 1994 | 612 patents | +73.4% |
| 1995 | 694 patents | +13.4% |
| 1996 | 238 patents | -65.7% |
| 1997 | 195 patents | -18.1% |
| 1998 | 30 patents | -84.6% |
| 1999 | 13 patents | -56.7% |
| 2000 | 25 patents | +92.3% |
| 2001 | 1 patents | -96.0% |
| 2003 | 2 patents | +100.0% |
| 2005 | 1 patents | -50.0% |
| 2012 | 1 patents | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 5 patents | +400.0% |
| 2014 | 1 patents | -80.0% |
| 2015 | 8 patents | +700.0% |
| 2016 | 4 patents | -50.0% |
| 2019 | 2 patents | -50.0% |
| 2020 | 1 patents | -50.0% |
| 2021 | 2 patents | +100.0% |
| 2023 | 3 patents | +50.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 3 patents is below the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 21% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 3 patents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.5 patents, 40% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in Ireland 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 | +700.0% | 1 patents | 8 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 170.1 patents | 120 patents | 230 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 244.5 patents | 13 patents | 694 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.25 patents | 1 patents | 25 patents | 4 |
| 2010s | 3.5 patents | 1 patents | 8 patents | 6 |
| 2020s | 2 patents | 1 patents | 3 patents | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More science & technology data for Ireland
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 112.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.1 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 5.92 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 83.58 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 64 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 64 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Ireland?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Ireland was 3 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 694 patents in 1995.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 patents in 2001.
- How does Ireland rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Ireland ranks 48th out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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 — 33 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.