Life science patents granted, by technology in Norway
Norway: Life science patents granted, by technology was 16 patents in 2023. ▲ Rising
Life science patents granted, by technology in Norway, 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 Norway is 16 patents, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.7% on the previous year and down 91.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Norway peaked at 279 patents in 1997 and was at its lowest, 16 patents, in 2023.
That places Norway 32nd out of 65 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Life science patents granted, by technology in Norway, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 58 patents | — |
| 1981 | 69 patents | +19.0% |
| 1982 | 103 patents | +49.3% |
| 1983 | 86 patents | -16.5% |
| 1984 | 81 patents | -5.8% |
| 1985 | 114 patents | +40.7% |
| 1986 | 70 patents | -38.6% |
| 1987 | 90 patents | +28.6% |
| 1988 | 117 patents | +30.0% |
| 1989 | 145 patents | +23.9% |
| 1990 | 143 patents | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 169 patents | +18.2% |
| 1992 | 203 patents | +20.1% |
| 1993 | 182 patents | -10.3% |
| 1994 | 206 patents | +13.2% |
| 1995 | 165 patents | -19.9% |
| 1996 | 187 patents | +13.3% |
| 1997 | 279 patents | +49.2% |
| 1998 | 229 patents | -17.9% |
| 1999 | 276 patents | +20.5% |
| 2000 | 277 patents | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 245 patents | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 262 patents | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 252 patents | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 176 patents | -30.2% |
| 2005 | 252 patents | +43.2% |
| 2006 | 252 patents | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 244 patents | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 189 patents | -22.5% |
| 2009 | 236 patents | +24.9% |
| 2010 | 243 patents | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 213 patents | -12.3% |
| 2012 | 181 patents | -15.0% |
| 2013 | 177 patents | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 141 patents | -20.3% |
| 2015 | 100 patents | -29.1% |
| 2016 | 196 patents | +96.0% |
| 2017 | 183 patents | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 196 patents | +7.1% |
| 2019 | 71 patents | -63.8% |
| 2020 | 46 patents | -35.2% |
| 2021 | 18 patents | -60.9% |
| 2022 | 27 patents | +50.0% |
| 2023 | 16 patents | -40.7% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 16 patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Norway's 16 patents is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.5 patents, 2.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 93.3 patents | 58 patents | 145 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 203.9 patents | 143 patents | 279 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 238.5 patents | 176 patents | 277 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 170.1 patents | 71 patents | 243 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.75 patents | 16 patents | 46 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More science & technology data for Norway
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 109.35 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.09 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 6.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 16.61 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.2781 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.7601 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 13,756 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0025 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Norway?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Norway was 16 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 279 patents in 1997.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 16 patents in 2023.
- How does Norway rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Norway ranks 32nd out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway 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.