Life science patents granted, by technology in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Life science patents granted, by technology was 14 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in Saudi Arabia, 1999–2023
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 Saudi Arabia is 14 patents, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 366.7% on the previous year and down 53.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Saudi Arabia peaked at 131 patents in 2006 and was at its lowest, 1 patents, in 2011.
Saudi Arabia ranks 35th 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5 patents | — |
| 2001 | 6 patents | +20.0% |
| 2002 | 2 patents | -66.7% |
| 2003 | 2 patents | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 26 patents | +1200.0% |
| 2005 | 47 patents | +80.8% |
| 2006 | 131 patents | +178.7% |
| 2007 | 31 patents | -76.3% |
| 2008 | 37 patents | +19.4% |
| 2009 | 21 patents | -43.2% |
| 2010 | 4 patents | -81.0% |
| 2011 | 1 patents | -75.0% |
| 2012 | 5 patents | +400.0% |
| 2013 | 30 patents | +500.0% |
| 2014 | 7 patents | -76.7% |
| 2015 | 11 patents | +57.1% |
| 2017 | 2 patents | -81.8% |
| 2018 | 2 patents | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 5 patents | +150.0% |
| 2022 | 3 patents | -40.0% |
| 2023 | 14 patents | +366.7% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 14 patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 14 patents is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10 patents, 1.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +1200.0% | 2 patents | 26 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 patents | 5 patents | 5 patents | 1 |
| 2000s | 33.67 patents | 2 patents | 131 patents | 9 |
| 2010s | 7.75 patents | 1 patents | 30 patents | 8 |
| 2020s | 7.33 patents | 3 patents | 14 patents | 3 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More science & technology data for Saudi Arabia
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 159.54 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.53 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 54.18 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 24.41 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 4,921 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 4,921 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Saudi Arabia?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Saudi Arabia was 14 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 131 patents in 2006.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 patents in 2011.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 35th out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 — 21 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.