Annual patent applications per million people in Portugal
Portugal: Annual patent applications per million people was 68.62 applications per million people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications per million people in Portugal, 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
The most recent figure for annual patent applications per million people in Portugal is 68.62 applications per million people, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in Portugal peaked at 89.3 applications per million people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 5.39 applications per million people, in 1988.
Portugal ranks 32nd of 135 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.28 applications per million people | 5.39 applications per million people | 9.6 applications per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.75 applications per million people | 6.93 applications per million people | 10.31 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.07 applications per million people | 7.87 applications per million people | 54.03 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.62 applications per million people | 47.2 applications per million people | 89.3 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.06 applications per million people | 67.49 applications per million people | 68.62 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 29 Poland 91.32 applications per million people compare
- 30 Iceland 91.27 applications per million people compare
- 31 Belgium 68.96 applications per million people compare
- 33 New Zealand 64.9 applications per million people compare
- 34 Latvia 55.19 applications per million people compare
- 35 Hong Kong 54.09 applications per million people compare
More science & technology data for Portugal
- Scientific and technical journal articles 18,225 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 12.94 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 124.13 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 124.13 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 42 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 88.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 711 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.7% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 2,730 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 8.55 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in Portugal?
- Annual patent applications per million people in Portugal was 68.62 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 89.3 applications per million people in 2015.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.39 applications per million people in 1988.
- How does Portugal rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- Portugal ranks 32nd out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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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