Life science patents granted, by filing office in Ireland
Ireland: Life science patents granted, by filing office was 4 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by filing office in Ireland, 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 Ireland stood at 4 patents.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 100.0% on the previous year and down 60.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by filing office in Ireland peaked at 1,133 patents in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0 patents, in 2002.
That places Ireland 41st 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 262 patents | — |
| 1981 | 231 patents | -11.8% |
| 1982 | 274 patents | +18.6% |
| 1983 | 260 patents | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 246 patents | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 287 patents | +16.7% |
| 1986 | 345 patents | +20.2% |
| 1987 | 230 patents | -33.3% |
| 1988 | 206 patents | -10.4% |
| 1989 | 204 patents | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 217 patents | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 229 patents | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 124 patents | -45.9% |
| 1993 | 515 patents | +315.3% |
| 1994 | 953 patents | +85.0% |
| 1995 | 1,133 patents | +18.9% |
| 1996 | 466 patents | -58.9% |
| 1997 | 368 patents | -21.0% |
| 1998 | 80 patents | -78.3% |
| 1999 | 31 patents | -61.3% |
| 2000 | 46 patents | +48.4% |
| 2001 | 1 patents | -97.8% |
| 2002 | 0 patents | -100.0% |
| 2003 | 2 patents | — |
| 2004 | 0 patents | -100.0% |
| 2005 | 1 patents | — |
| 2006 | 0 patents | -100.0% |
| 2007 | 0 patents | — |
| 2008 | 0 patents | — |
| 2009 | 1 patents | — |
| 2010 | 0 patents | -100.0% |
| 2011 | 0 patents | — |
| 2012 | 3 patents | — |
| 2013 | 10 patents | +233.3% |
| 2014 | 6 patents | -40.0% |
| 2015 | 20 patents | +233.3% |
| 2016 | 11 patents | -45.0% |
| 2017 | 4 patents | -63.6% |
| 2018 | 4 patents | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 18 patents | +350.0% |
| 2020 | 9 patents | -50.0% |
| 2021 | 2 patents | -77.8% |
| 2022 | 2 patents | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4 patents | +100.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 4 patents is below the median for high income countries, which is 28 patents, 14% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 4 patents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 25.5 patents, 16% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by filing office in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +350.0% | 4 patents | 18 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 254.5 patents | 204 patents | 345 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 411.6 patents | 31 patents | 1,133 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.1 patents | 0 patents | 46 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6 patents | 0 patents | 20 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.25 patents | 2 patents | 9 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More science & technology data for Ireland
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 112.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.1 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 5.92 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 83.58 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 64 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 64 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by filing office in Ireland?
- Life science patents granted, by filing office in Ireland was 4 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1,133 patents in 1995.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 patents in 2002.
- How does Ireland rank for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- Ireland ranks 41st out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by filing office rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.