Life science patents granted, by technology in Portugal
Portugal: Life science patents granted, by technology was 2 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in Portugal, 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 Portugal stood at 2 patents. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
The figure is down 33.3% on the previous year and down 75.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Portugal peaked at 460 patents in 1986 and was at its lowest, 2 patents, in 2007.
That places Portugal 52nd out of 65 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Life science patents granted, by technology in Portugal, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 24 patents | — |
| 1981 | 88 patents | +266.7% |
| 1982 | 127 patents | +44.3% |
| 1983 | 163 patents | +28.3% |
| 1984 | 62 patents | -62.0% |
| 1985 | 108 patents | +74.2% |
| 1986 | 460 patents | +325.9% |
| 1987 | 279 patents | -39.3% |
| 1988 | 258 patents | -7.5% |
| 1989 | 242 patents | -6.2% |
| 1990 | 240 patents | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 27 patents | -88.8% |
| 1992 | 235 patents | +770.4% |
| 1993 | 124 patents | -47.2% |
| 1994 | 184 patents | +48.4% |
| 1995 | 297 patents | +61.4% |
| 1996 | 96 patents | -67.7% |
| 1997 | 152 patents | +58.3% |
| 1998 | 221 patents | +45.4% |
| 1999 | 268 patents | +21.3% |
| 2000 | 11 patents | -95.9% |
| 2001 | 16 patents | +45.5% |
| 2002 | 10 patents | -37.5% |
| 2003 | 11 patents | +10.0% |
| 2004 | 10 patents | -9.1% |
| 2005 | 3 patents | -70.0% |
| 2007 | 2 patents | -33.3% |
| 2008 | 8 patents | +300.0% |
| 2009 | 6 patents | -25.0% |
| 2010 | 2 patents | -66.7% |
| 2011 | 5 patents | +150.0% |
| 2012 | 5 patents | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 8 patents | +60.0% |
| 2014 | 3 patents | -62.5% |
| 2015 | 4 patents | +33.3% |
| 2017 | 3 patents | -25.0% |
| 2018 | 7 patents | +133.3% |
| 2019 | 5 patents | -28.6% |
| 2020 | 4 patents | -20.0% |
| 2021 | 13 patents | +225.0% |
| 2022 | 3 patents | -76.9% |
| 2023 | 2 patents | -33.3% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 2 patents is below the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 14% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 2 patents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.5 patents, 27% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in Portugal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +770.4% | 27 patents | 235 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 181.1 patents | 24 patents | 460 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 184.4 patents | 27 patents | 297 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.56 patents | 2 patents | 16 patents | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.67 patents | 2 patents | 8 patents | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.5 patents | 2 patents | 13 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 52 Austria 2 patents compare
- 52 South Africa 2 patents compare
- 55 Croatia 1 patents compare
- 55 Estonia 1 patents compare
- 55 Israel 1 patents compare
- 55 Italy 1 patents compare
- 55 Lithuania 1 patents compare
- 55 Malta 1 patents compare
- 55 Monaco 1 patents compare
- 55 Mongolia 1 patents compare
- 55 Slovenia 1 patents compare
- 55 Ukraine 1 patents compare
- 55 Zimbabwe 1 patents compare
More science & technology data for Portugal
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 124.13 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.21 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 12.94 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 140.06 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.9171 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.8644 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 53 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 53 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Portugal?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Portugal was 2 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 460 patents in 1986.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 patents in 2007.
- How does Portugal rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Portugal ranks 52nd out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 75.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.