Annual patent applications per million people in Ireland
Ireland: Annual patent applications per million people was 14.68 applications per million people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications per million people in Ireland, 1980–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World i. Measured in applications per million people.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 14.68 applications per million people for annual patent applications per million people in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in Ireland peaked at 222.4 applications per million people in 1991 and was at its lowest, 11.65 applications per million people, in 2019.
That places Ireland 65th out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual patent applications per million people in Ireland, year by year
| Year | applications per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 115.45 applications per million people | — |
| 1981 | 133.51 applications per million people | +15.6% |
| 1982 | 124.5 applications per million people | -6.7% |
| 1983 | 161.51 applications per million people | +29.7% |
| 1984 | 184.29 applications per million people | +14.1% |
| 1985 | 205.2 applications per million people | +11.3% |
| 1986 | 209.91 applications per million people | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 203.1 applications per million people | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 206.24 applications per million people | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 209.63 applications per million people | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 208.88 applications per million people | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 222.4 applications per million people | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 16.59 applications per million people | -92.5% |
| 2017 | 12.84 applications per million people | -22.6% |
| 2018 | 15.52 applications per million people | +20.8% |
| 2019 | 11.65 applications per million people | -24.9% |
| 2020 | 14.88 applications per million people | +27.7% |
| 2021 | 14.68 applications per million people | -1.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 14.68 applications per million people is below the median for high income countries, which is 60.04 applications per million people, 24% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 14.68 applications per million people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 41.22 applications per million people, 36% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual patent applications per million people 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -92.5% | 222.4 applications per million people | 16.59 applications per million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 175.33 applications per million people | 115.45 applications per million people | 209.91 applications per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 215.64 applications per million people | 208.88 applications per million people | 222.4 applications per million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.15 applications per million people | 11.65 applications per million people | 16.59 applications per million people | 4 |
| 2020s | 14.78 applications per million people | 14.68 applications per million people | 14.88 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 62 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16.33 applications per million people compare
- 63 Tunisia 15.3 applications per million people compare
- 64 Iraq 15.08 applications per million people compare
- 66 Armenia 13.5 applications per million people compare
- 67 Kyrgyzstan 12.11 applications per million people compare
- 68 Thailand 12.09 applications per million people compare
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 annual patent applications per million people in Ireland?
- Annual patent applications per million people in Ireland was 14.68 applications per million people in 2021, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World i.
- What is the highest annual patent applications per million people recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 222.4 applications per million people in 1991.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.65 applications per million people in 2019.
- How does Ireland rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- Ireland ranks 65th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. 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), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World i, published as part of Annual patent applications per million people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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