Annual patent applications per million people in South Africa
South Africa: Annual patent applications per million people was 29.33 applications per million people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications per million people in South Africa, 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
In 2021, annual patent applications per million people in South Africa stood at 29.33 applications per million people.
That represents a change of up 227.8% on the previous year and up 137.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in South Africa peaked at 131.87 applications per million people in 1987 and was at its lowest, 2.95 applications per million people, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 46th of 135 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 | 118.66 applications per million people | 95.43 applications per million people | 131.87 applications per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.61 applications per million people | 2.95 applications per million people | 26.82 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.67 applications per million people | 15.89 applications per million people | 20.47 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.68 applications per million people | 9.52 applications per million people | 15.68 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.14 applications per million people | 8.95 applications per million people | 29.33 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 43 Mongolia 32.21 applications per million people compare
- 44 Belarus 29.67 applications per million people compare
- 45 Ukraine 29.39 applications per million people compare
- 47 Lithuania 28.84 applications per million people compare
- 48 Spain 27.57 applications per million people compare
- 49 Slovakia 26.8 applications per million people compare
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Scientific and technical journal articles 14,949 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 9,156 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 78.4% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 1,804 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.6% (2022)
- Number of people using the Internet 46.11 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 5.35 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in South Africa?
- Annual patent applications per million people in South Africa was 29.33 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 131.87 applications per million people in 1987.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.95 applications per million people in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- South Africa ranks 46th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 137.0%. 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), 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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