Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in South Africa

South Africa: Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications was 60.67 Patents in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
60.67 Patents
Change on year
down 15.3%
World rank
33rd
of 88 countries
All-time high
131.5 Patents
in 2001
All-time low
7 Patents
in 1978
Years of data
46
1978–2023

Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in South Africa, 1978–2023

0255075100125197820002023

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for environment-related technologies patents — patent applications in South Africa is 60.67 Patents, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 15.3% on the previous year and down 40.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, environment-related technologies patents — patent applications in South Africa peaked at 131.5 Patents in 2001 and was at its lowest, 7 Patents, in 1978.

South Africa ranks 33rd of 88 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.

Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in South Africa, 1978 to 2023.
Year Patents Change
1978 7 Patents
1979 27 Patents +285.7%
1980 32 Patents +18.5%
1981 50 Patents +56.2%
1982 62 Patents +24.0%
1983 57.5 Patents -7.3%
1984 69 Patents +20.0%
1985 69.83 Patents +1.2%
1986 58.17 Patents -16.7%
1987 84 Patents +44.4%
1988 61.5 Patents -26.8%
1989 75.42 Patents +22.6%
1990 80.5 Patents +6.7%
1991 62.67 Patents -22.2%
1992 59 Patents -5.9%
1993 99.58 Patents +68.8%
1994 87 Patents -12.6%
1995 44.67 Patents -48.7%
1996 53.5 Patents +19.8%
1997 68.17 Patents +27.4%
1998 91 Patents +33.5%
1999 111 Patents +22.0%
2000 101.83 Patents -8.3%
2001 131.5 Patents +29.1%
2002 99 Patents -24.7%
2003 107.83 Patents +8.9%
2004 125.58 Patents +16.5%
2005 115 Patents -8.4%
2006 121 Patents +5.2%
2007 120.29 Patents -0.6%
2008 99.5 Patents -17.3%
2009 109.67 Patents +10.2%
2010 94.58 Patents -13.8%
2011 100.92 Patents +6.7%
2012 107.5 Patents +6.5%
2013 101.25 Patents -5.8%
2014 91 Patents -10.1%
2015 113.67 Patents +24.9%
2016 92.33 Patents -18.8%
2017 100.2 Patents +8.5%
2018 86.75 Patents -13.4%
2019 90.5 Patents +4.3%
2020 78 Patents -13.8%
2021 75.5 Patents -3.2%
2022 71.67 Patents -5.1%
2023 60.67 Patents -15.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 17 Patents 7 Patents 27 Patents 2
1980s 61.94 Patents 32 Patents 84 Patents 10
1990s 75.71 Patents 44.67 Patents 111 Patents 10
2000s 113.12 Patents 99 Patents 131.5 Patents 10
2010s 97.87 Patents 86.75 Patents 113.67 Patents 10
2020s 71.46 Patents 60.67 Patents 78 Patents 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 31 New Zealand 102.5 Patents compare
  2. 32 Hungary 81.37 Patents compare
  3. 34 Thailand 56.5 Patents compare
  4. 35 United Arab Emirates 49 Patents compare
  5. 36 Cyprus 44 Patents compare

See the full ranking of 104 places →

More environment data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is environment-related technologies patents — patent applications in South Africa?
Environment-related technologies patents — patent applications in South Africa was 60.67 Patents in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest environment-related technologies patents — patent applications recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 131.5 Patents in 2001.
What is the lowest environment-related technologies patents — patent applications recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 7 Patents in 1978.
How does South Africa rank for environment-related technologies patents — patent applications?
South Africa ranks 33rd out of 88 countries with data for 2023.
Is environment-related technologies patents — patent applications rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 40.1%. 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 Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/environment-related-technologies-patents-patent-applications/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications
Unit
Patents
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
104 places, 4,784 data points, 1978–2023
Last refreshed

To identify patents in environment-related technologies (ENV-TECH), detailed search strategies have been developed drawing on more than 200,000 classification symbols. The search strategies encompass a broad spectrum of technologies related to environmental pollution, water scarcity, climate change mitigation.