Life science patents granted, by technology in United States
United States: Life science patents granted, by technology was 6,365 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
6,365 patents
Change on year
down 10.2%
World rank
2nd
of 65 countries
All-time high
7,820 patents
in 2020
All-time low
842 patents
in 1983
Years of data
44
1980–2023
Life science patents granted, by technology in United States, 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 United States stood at 6,365 patents.
The figure is down 10.2% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in United States peaked at 7,820 patents in 2020 and was at its lowest, 842 patents, in 1983.
United States ranks 2nd of 65 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Life science patents granted, by technology in United States, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 904 patents | — |
| 1981 | 977 patents | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 918 patents | -6.0% |
| 1983 | 842 patents | -8.3% |
| 1984 | 1,097 patents | +30.3% |
| 1985 | 1,075 patents | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 1,123 patents | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 1,354 patents | +20.6% |
| 1988 | 1,321 patents | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 1,871 patents | +41.6% |
| 1990 | 1,762 patents | -5.8% |
| 1991 | 1,907 patents | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 1,883 patents | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 1,897 patents | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 1,830 patents | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 2,072 patents | +13.2% |
| 1996 | 2,556 patents | +23.4% |
| 1997 | 3,361 patents | +31.5% |
| 1998 | 3,893 patents | +15.8% |
| 1999 | 4,228 patents | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 4,001 patents | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 4,417 patents | +10.4% |
| 2002 | 4,585 patents | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 4,255 patents | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 3,174 patents | -25.4% |
| 2005 | 2,841 patents | -10.5% |
| 2006 | 3,812 patents | +34.2% |
| 2007 | 3,421 patents | -10.3% |
| 2008 | 3,393 patents | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 3,648 patents | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 5,118 patents | +40.3% |
| 2011 | 5,064 patents | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 6,000 patents | +18.5% |
| 2013 | 6,945 patents | +15.8% |
| 2014 | 7,341 patents | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 6,903 patents | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 6,628 patents | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 7,224 patents | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 6,987 patents | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 7,503 patents | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 7,820 patents | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 7,691 patents | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 7,090 patents | -7.8% |
| 2023 | 6,365 patents | -10.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 6,365 patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 454.6× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,148 patents | 842 patents | 1,871 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,539 patents | 1,762 patents | 4,228 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,755 patents | 2,841 patents | 4,585 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,571 patents | 5,064 patents | 7,503 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,242 patents | 6,365 patents | 7,820 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More science & technology data for United States
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 113.19 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.15 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 390.99 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 42.21 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.693 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 332,899 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 332,899 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in United States?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in United States was 6,365 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 7,820 patents in 2020.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 842 patents in 1983.
- How does United States rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.