Life science patents granted, by filing office in Denmark
Denmark: Life science patents granted, by filing office was 31 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by filing office in Denmark, 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 filing office in Denmark stood at 31 patents.
The figure is down 3.1% on the previous year and up 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by filing office in Denmark peaked at 515 patents in 1993 and was at its lowest, 6 patents, in 2011.
That places Denmark 27th out of 70 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 filing office in Denmark, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 143 patents | — |
| 1981 | 129 patents | -9.8% |
| 1982 | 135 patents | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 126 patents | -6.7% |
| 1984 | 125 patents | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 114 patents | -8.8% |
| 1986 | 125 patents | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 139 patents | +11.2% |
| 1988 | 308 patents | +121.6% |
| 1989 | 309 patents | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 311 patents | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 408 patents | +31.2% |
| 1992 | 489 patents | +19.9% |
| 1993 | 515 patents | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 286 patents | -44.5% |
| 1995 | 214 patents | -25.2% |
| 1996 | 143 patents | -33.2% |
| 1997 | 114 patents | -20.3% |
| 1998 | 66 patents | -42.1% |
| 1999 | 118 patents | +78.8% |
| 2000 | 82 patents | -30.5% |
| 2001 | 91 patents | +11.0% |
| 2002 | 84 patents | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 98 patents | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 347 patents | +254.1% |
| 2005 | 161 patents | -53.6% |
| 2006 | 32 patents | -80.1% |
| 2007 | 38 patents | +18.8% |
| 2008 | 17 patents | -55.3% |
| 2009 | 11 patents | -35.3% |
| 2010 | 8 patents | -27.3% |
| 2011 | 6 patents | -25.0% |
| 2012 | 20 patents | +233.3% |
| 2013 | 25 patents | +25.0% |
| 2014 | 16 patents | -36.0% |
| 2015 | 27 patents | +68.8% |
| 2016 | 23 patents | -14.8% |
| 2017 | 24 patents | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 12 patents | -50.0% |
| 2019 | 42 patents | +250.0% |
| 2020 | 29 patents | -31.0% |
| 2021 | 20 patents | -31.0% |
| 2022 | 32 patents | +60.0% |
| 2023 | 31 patents | -3.1% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 31 patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 28 patents, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 31 patents is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 25.5 patents, 1.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by filing office in Denmark 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 | +254.1% | 98 patents | 347 patents |
| 2019 | +250.0% | 12 patents | 42 patents |
| 2012 | +233.3% | 6 patents | 20 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 165.3 patents | 114 patents | 309 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 266.4 patents | 66 patents | 515 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 96.1 patents | 11 patents | 347 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.3 patents | 6 patents | 42 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 28 patents | 20 patents | 32 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More science & technology data for Denmark
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 126.69 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.27 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 7.57 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 188.43 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.0237 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0.4681 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 204 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 204 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by filing office in Denmark?
- Life science patents granted, by filing office in Denmark was 31 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 filing office recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 515 patents in 1993.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 patents in 2011.
- How does Denmark rank for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- Denmark ranks 27th out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by filing office rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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 filing office. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Patents granted within the fields of medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals by filing office. These patents cover a wide range of innovations, such as medical devices, diagnostic methods, genetic engineering techniques, biotechnological processes and new drugs.