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Patent applications by nonresidents — all countries

Patent applications by nonresidents — Sub-Saharan Africa

Patent applications by nonresidents in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 — 8,160 filings. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 35.1%.

2020 8,160 filings −6.25% vs 2019
World rank —
Period maximum 8,951 filings2013
Period minimum 3,132 filings2000

Trend over time

1980–2020 · applications

Patent applications by nonresidents — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1980–202002,5005,0007,50010,000198019841988199219962000200420082012201620201980: 6,040 filings1981: 6,622 filings1982: 7,427 filings1983: 6,374 filings1984: 7,035 filings1985: 6,824 filings1986: 5,626 filings1987: 5,348 filings1988: 5,348 filings1989: 5,232 filings1990: 5,632 filings1991: 5,036 filings1992: 4,773 filings1993: 4,676 filings1994: 5,314 filings1995: 6,202 filings1996: 6,543 filings1997: 7,511 filings1998: 7,801 filings1999: 3,748 filings2000: 3,132 filings2001: 6,206 filings2002: 6,099 filings2003: 5,716 filings2004: 6,244 filings2005: 6,467 filings2006: 7,319 filings2007: 8,161 filings2008: 8,177 filings2009: 6,559 filings2010: 5,757 filings2011: 8,066 filings2012: 8,260 filings2013: 8,951 filings2014: 8,271 filings2015: 8,015 filings2016: 8,200 filings2017: 8,807 filings2018: 8,905 filings2019: 8,704 filings2020: 8,160 filings
Change over the period: +2,120 (+35.1%) Average annual rate: 0.75 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 8,160 filings
World 970,400 filings
Patent applications by nonresidents — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year filings Change Change, %
2020 8,160 −544 −6.25%
2019 8,704 −201 −2.26%
2018 8,905 +98 +1.11%
2017 8,807 +607 +7.4%
2016 8,200 +185 +2.31%
2015 8,015 −256 −3.1%
2014 8,271 −680 −7.6%
2013 8,951 +691 +8.37%
2012 8,260 +194 +2.41%
2011 8,066 +2,309 +40.11%
2010 5,757 −802 −12.23%
2009 6,559 −1,618 −19.79%
2008 8,177 +16 +0.2%
2007 8,161 +842 +11.5%
2006 7,319 +852 +13.17%
2005 6,467 +223 +3.57%
2004 6,244 +528 +9.24%
2003 5,716 −383 −6.28%
2002 6,099 −107 −1.72%
2001 6,206 +3,074 +98.15%
2000 3,132 −616 −16.44%
1999 3,748 −4,053 −51.95%
1998 7,801 +290 +3.86%
1997 7,511 +968 +14.79%
1996 6,543 +341 +5.5%
1995 6,202 +888 +16.71%
1994 5,314 +638 +13.64%
1993 4,676 −97 −2.03%
1992 4,773 −263 −5.22%
1991 5,036 −596 −10.58%
1990 5,632 +400 +7.65%
1989 5,232 −116 −2.17%
1988 5,348 +0 +0%
1987 5,348 −278 −4.94%
1986 5,626 −1,198 −17.56%
1985 6,824 −211 −3%
1984 7,035 +661 +10.37%
1983 6,374 −1,053 −14.18%
1982 7,427 +805 +12.16%
1981 6,622 +582 +9.64%
1980 6,040 — —

About the indicator

The number of patent applications filed in a country by nonresident applicants. The indicator measures not the inventive activity of the country but the value of its market: a patent has force only where it is granted, so foreign companies file where they intend to sell or where they fear copying. The ratio to applications by residents splits countries into those that invent and those where others file.

Important: A measure of the appeal of a market, not of innovativeness. An application is not a patent: some applications are rejected, and the share of rejections differs across countries.

Source: IP Statistics (WIPO), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.

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