Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants in South Africa

South Africa: Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants was 11 Patents in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
11 Patents
Change on year
down 54.2%
World rank
30th
of 88 countries
All-time high
71 Patents
in 2004
All-time low
5 Patents
in 1978
Years of data
45
1978–2022

Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants in South Africa, 1978–2022

0204060801978200020221978: 5 Patents1979: 19 Patents1980: 17 Patents1981: 22 Patents1982: 26 Patents1983: 27 Patents1984: 23.5 Patents1985: 25.3 Patents1986: 27.5 Patents1987: 37 Patents1988: 21 Patents1989: 32.8 Patents1990: 38.5 Patents1991: 32.7 Patents1992: 34.5 Patents1993: 57.1 Patents1994: 61 Patents1995: 24.5 Patents1996: 27.5 Patents1997: 38.2 Patents1998: 52.5 Patents1999: 61 Patents2000: 46.3 Patents2001: 70.5 Patents2002: 47.5 Patents2003: 61.8 Patents2004: 71 Patents2005: 67.2 Patents2006: 61 Patents2007: 57 Patents2008: 53 Patents2009: 59.8 Patents2010: 50 Patents2011: 44.8 Patents2012: 58.5 Patents2013: 59.5 Patents2014: 54.5 Patents2015: 56.7 Patents2016: 65 Patents2017: 57.5 Patents2018: 41.5 Patents2019: 42 Patents2020: 27.5 Patents2021: 24 Patents2022: 11 Patents

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Patents.

Analysis

In 2022, patents in oecd selected technologies — patent grants in South Africa stood at 11 Patents.

That represents a change of down 54.2% on the previous year and down 81.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, patents in oecd selected technologies — patent grants in South Africa peaked at 71 Patents in 2004 and was at its lowest, 5 Patents, in 1978.

South Africa ranks 30th of 88 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.

Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants in South Africa, 1978 to 2022.
Year Patents Change
1978 5 Patents
1979 19 Patents +280.0%
1980 17 Patents -10.5%
1981 22 Patents +29.4%
1982 26 Patents +18.2%
1983 27 Patents +3.8%
1984 23.5 Patents -13.0%
1985 25.33 Patents +7.8%
1986 27.5 Patents +8.6%
1987 37 Patents +34.5%
1988 21 Patents -43.2%
1989 32.75 Patents +56.0%
1990 38.5 Patents +17.6%
1991 32.67 Patents -15.2%
1992 34.5 Patents +5.6%
1993 57.08 Patents +65.5%
1994 61 Patents +6.9%
1995 24.5 Patents -59.8%
1996 27.5 Patents +12.2%
1997 38.17 Patents +38.8%
1998 52.5 Patents +37.6%
1999 61 Patents +16.2%
2000 46.33 Patents -24.0%
2001 70.5 Patents +52.2%
2002 47.5 Patents -32.6%
2003 61.83 Patents +30.2%
2004 71 Patents +14.8%
2005 67.17 Patents -5.4%
2006 61 Patents -9.2%
2007 57 Patents -6.6%
2008 53 Patents -7.0%
2009 59.83 Patents +12.9%
2010 50 Patents -16.4%
2011 44.75 Patents -10.5%
2012 58.5 Patents +30.7%
2013 59.5 Patents +1.7%
2014 54.5 Patents -8.4%
2015 56.67 Patents +4.0%
2016 65 Patents +14.7%
2017 57.5 Patents -11.5%
2018 41.5 Patents -27.8%
2019 42 Patents +1.2%
2020 27.5 Patents -34.5%
2021 24 Patents -12.7%
2022 11 Patents -54.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 12 Patents 5 Patents 19 Patents 2
1980s 25.91 Patents 17 Patents 37 Patents 10
1990s 42.74 Patents 24.5 Patents 61 Patents 10
2000s 59.52 Patents 46.33 Patents 71 Patents 10
2010s 52.99 Patents 41.5 Patents 65 Patents 10
2020s 20.83 Patents 11 Patents 27.5 Patents 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 27 Australia 20.5 Patents compare
  2. 28 Greece 20.13 Patents compare
  3. 29 Hungary 18 Patents compare
  4. 31 United Arab Emirates 10 Patents compare
  5. 32 Brazil 9.67 Patents compare
  6. 33 Malta 8 Patents compare

See the full ranking of 104 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is patents in oecd selected technologies — patent grants in South Africa?
Patents in oecd selected technologies — patent grants in South Africa was 11 Patents in 2022, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest patents in oecd selected technologies — patent grants recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 71 Patents in 2004.
What is the lowest patents in oecd selected technologies — patent grants recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 5 Patents in 1978.
How does South Africa rank for patents in oecd selected technologies — patent grants?
South Africa ranks 30th out of 88 countries with data for 2022.
Is patents in oecd selected technologies — patent grants rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 81.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/patents-in-oecd-selected-technologies-patent-grants/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent grants
Unit
Patents
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
104 places, 4,680 data points, 1978–2022
Last refreshed

Patent counts by technology (including total patents, estimated total patents for latest years): EPO, USPTO, PCT and Patent Families indicators are presented for selected technology domains such as ICT, Artificial Intelligence, nanotechnology, biotechnology as well as environment-related and health-related technologies.