Life science patents granted, by technology in Sweden
Sweden: Life science patents granted, by technology was 7 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in Sweden, 1982–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 7 patents for life science patents granted, by technology in 2023.
That represents a change of up 16.7% on the previous year and up 133.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Sweden peaked at 34 patents in 1996 and was at its lowest, 1 patents, in 1989.
Sweden ranks 40th 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 2 patents | — |
| 1985 | 2 patents | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1 patents | -50.0% |
| 1990 | 1 patents | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 14 patents | +1300.0% |
| 1995 | 30 patents | +114.3% |
| 1996 | 34 patents | +13.3% |
| 1997 | 28 patents | -17.6% |
| 1998 | 23 patents | -17.9% |
| 1999 | 23 patents | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 24 patents | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 10 patents | -58.3% |
| 2002 | 21 patents | +110.0% |
| 2003 | 19 patents | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 27 patents | +42.1% |
| 2005 | 13 patents | -51.9% |
| 2006 | 14 patents | +7.7% |
| 2007 | 8 patents | -42.9% |
| 2008 | 3 patents | -62.5% |
| 2009 | 7 patents | +133.3% |
| 2010 | 3 patents | -57.1% |
| 2011 | 4 patents | +33.3% |
| 2012 | 4 patents | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 patents | -25.0% |
| 2014 | 3 patents | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 6 patents | +100.0% |
| 2016 | 5 patents | -16.7% |
| 2017 | 5 patents | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 4 patents | -20.0% |
| 2019 | 2 patents | -50.0% |
| 2020 | 6 patents | +200.0% |
| 2021 | 2 patents | -66.7% |
| 2022 | 6 patents | +200.0% |
| 2023 | 7 patents | +16.7% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 7 patents is below the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 50% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 7 patents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.5 patents, 93% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in Sweden 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +1300.0% | 1 patents | 14 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.67 patents | 1 patents | 2 patents | 3 |
| 1990s | 21.86 patents | 1 patents | 34 patents | 7 |
| 2000s | 14.6 patents | 3 patents | 27 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9 patents | 2 patents | 6 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.25 patents | 2 patents | 7 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More science & technology data for Sweden
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 140.69 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.41 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 14.92 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 36.34 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.3001 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.8277 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 21,244 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Sweden?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Sweden was 7 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 34 patents in 1996.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 patents in 1989.
- How does Sweden rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Sweden ranks 40th out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 133.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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 — 34 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.