Life science patents granted, by filing office in South Africa
South Africa: Life science patents granted, by filing office was 3 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by filing office in South Africa, 1980–2023
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 filing office in South Africa is 3 patents, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is down 78.6% on the previous year and down 99.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by filing office in South Africa peaked at 1,975 patents in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3 patents, in 2023.
That places South Africa 42nd 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 463 patents | — |
| 1981 | 524 patents | +13.2% |
| 1982 | 679 patents | +29.6% |
| 1983 | 745 patents | +9.7% |
| 1984 | 801 patents | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 835 patents | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 900 patents | +7.8% |
| 1987 | 927 patents | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 976 patents | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 927 patents | -5.0% |
| 1990 | 935 patents | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 1,017 patents | +8.8% |
| 1992 | 1,115 patents | +9.6% |
| 1993 | 1,061 patents | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 829 patents | -21.9% |
| 1995 | 1,041 patents | +25.6% |
| 1996 | 1,330 patents | +27.8% |
| 1997 | 1,207 patents | -9.2% |
| 1998 | 1,302 patents | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 1,162 patents | -10.8% |
| 2000 | 426 patents | -63.3% |
| 2001 | 507 patents | +19.0% |
| 2002 | 1,230 patents | +142.6% |
| 2003 | 1,466 patents | +19.2% |
| 2004 | 1,517 patents | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 1,315 patents | -13.3% |
| 2006 | 1,332 patents | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 1,370 patents | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 1,975 patents | +44.2% |
| 2009 | 1,696 patents | -14.1% |
| 2010 | 1,392 patents | -17.9% |
| 2011 | 508 patents | -63.5% |
| 2012 | 1,239 patents | +143.9% |
| 2013 | 943 patents | -23.9% |
| 2014 | 971 patents | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 404 patents | -58.4% |
| 2016 | 39 patents | -90.3% |
| 2017 | 36 patents | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 18 patents | -50.0% |
| 2019 | 46 patents | +155.6% |
| 2020 | 28 patents | -39.1% |
| 2021 | 19 patents | -32.1% |
| 2022 | 14 patents | -26.3% |
| 2023 | 3 patents | -78.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 777.7 patents | 463 patents | 976 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,100 patents | 829 patents | 1,330 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,283 patents | 426 patents | 1,975 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 559.6 patents | 18 patents | 1,392 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 16 patents | 3 patents | 28 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 179.34 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 89.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 14,949 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by filing office in South Africa?
- Life science patents granted, by filing office in South Africa was 3 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,975 patents in 2008.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 patents in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by filing office rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.