Life science patents granted, by filing office in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Life science patents granted, by filing office was 749 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by filing office in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 749 patents.
That represents a change of down 14.2% on the previous year and up 119.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by filing office in United Kingdom peaked at 1,310 patents in 1983 and was at its lowest, 238 patents, in 2014.
That places United Kingdom 9th out of 70 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Life science patents granted, by filing office in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1,192 patents | — |
| 1981 | 1,074 patents | -9.9% |
| 1982 | 1,214 patents | +13.0% |
| 1983 | 1,310 patents | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 988 patents | -24.6% |
| 1985 | 973 patents | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 775 patents | -20.3% |
| 1987 | 655 patents | -15.5% |
| 1988 | 533 patents | -18.6% |
| 1989 | 535 patents | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 531 patents | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 562 patents | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 460 patents | -18.1% |
| 1993 | 319 patents | -30.7% |
| 1994 | 330 patents | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 349 patents | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 339 patents | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 357 patents | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 403 patents | +12.9% |
| 1999 | 352 patents | -12.7% |
| 2000 | 344 patents | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 338 patents | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 337 patents | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 423 patents | +25.5% |
| 2004 | 590 patents | +39.5% |
| 2005 | 464 patents | -21.4% |
| 2006 | 320 patents | -31.0% |
| 2007 | 279 patents | -12.8% |
| 2008 | 303 patents | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 306 patents | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 336 patents | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 473 patents | +40.8% |
| 2012 | 433 patents | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 341 patents | -21.2% |
| 2014 | 238 patents | -30.2% |
| 2015 | 324 patents | +36.1% |
| 2016 | 367 patents | +13.3% |
| 2017 | 402 patents | +9.5% |
| 2018 | 393 patents | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 369 patents | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 609 patents | +65.0% |
| 2021 | 647 patents | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 873 patents | +34.9% |
| 2023 | 749 patents | -14.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 924.9 patents | 533 patents | 1,310 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 400.2 patents | 319 patents | 562 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 370.4 patents | 279 patents | 590 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 367.6 patents | 238 patents | 473 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 719.5 patents | 609 patents | 873 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More science & technology data for United Kingdom
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 121.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.21 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 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 348.57 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.9277 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.2704 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 97,536 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by filing office in United Kingdom?
- Life science patents granted, by filing office in United Kingdom was 749 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1,310 patents in 1983.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 238 patents in 2014.
- How does United Kingdom rank for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- United Kingdom ranks 9th out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by filing office rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 119.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.