Patent applications, residents in South Africa
South Africa: Patent applications, residents was 350 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Patent applications, residents in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 350 for patent applications, residents in 2024.
The figure is down 15.3% on the previous year and down 56.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, patent applications, residents in South Africa peaked at 5,134 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 138, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 53rd of 139 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.
Patent applications, residents in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3,092 | — |
| 1981 | 3,340 | +8.0% |
| 1982 | 3,017 | -9.7% |
| 1983 | 4,240 | +40.5% |
| 1984 | 3,874 | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 4,051 | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 4,730 | +16.8% |
| 1987 | 4,922 | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 4,829 | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 5,134 | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 1,093 | -78.7% |
| 1991 | 1,023 | -6.4% |
| 1992 | 888 | -13.2% |
| 1993 | 904 | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 935 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 883 | -5.6% |
| 1996 | 757 | -14.3% |
| 1997 | 355 | -53.1% |
| 1998 | 200 | -43.7% |
| 1999 | 138 | -31.0% |
| 2000 | 895 | +548.6% |
| 2001 | 966 | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 983 | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 922 | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 956 | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 1,003 | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 866 | -13.7% |
| 2007 | 915 | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 860 | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 822 | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 821 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 656 | -20.1% |
| 2012 | 608 | -7.3% |
| 2013 | 638 | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 802 | +25.7% |
| 2015 | 889 | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 704 | -20.8% |
| 2017 | 728 | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 657 | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 567 | -13.7% |
| 2020 | 542 | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 494 | -8.9% |
| 2022 | 456 | -7.7% |
| 2023 | 413 | -9.4% |
| 2024 | 350 | -15.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 350 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 139, 2.5× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 350 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10, 35.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Patent applications, residents in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +548.6% | 138 | 895 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,123 | 3,017 | 5,134 | 10 |
| 1990s | 717.6 | 138 | 1,093 | 10 |
| 2000s | 918.8 | 822 | 1,003 | 10 |
| 2010s | 707 | 567 | 889 | 10 |
| 2020s | 451 | 350 | 542 | 5 |
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)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 8,549 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 8,549 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is patent applications, residents in South Africa?
- Patent applications, residents in South Africa was 350 in 2024, according to WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans.
- What is the highest patent applications, residents recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,134 in 1989.
- What is the lowest patent applications, residents recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 138 in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for patent applications, residents?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 139 countries with data for 2024.
- Is patent applications, residents rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans, published as part of Patent applications, residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Patent applications are worldwide patent applications filed through the Patent Cooperation Treaty procedure or with a national patent office for exclusive rights for an invention--a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem. A patent provides protection for the invention to the owner of the patent for a limited period, generally 20 years.