El Salvador Patent Applications
Patent applications by residents IP.PAT.RESD
El Salvador's patent applications was 2 in 2021, ranked 109th globally. This represents a 50.0% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2021.
Overview
El Salvador's patent applications stood at 2 in 2021, a decline of +2 from 2020. El Salvador ranked 109th globally.
El Salvador’s patent‑application activity remains modest, with 2.00 applications recorded in 2021, placing the country at 109th in the world and tying it with peers such as Macao SAR and Trinidad and Tobago, each also reporting 2.00 applications. The historical record shows a sharp decline from an all‑time peak of 39.00 applications in 1983 to a trough of just 1.00 in 2019, before the slight rebound to the current level. Over the 19‑year coverage span, the average number of applications per year has hovered well below one‑digit figures, reflecting limited domestic innovation output and a weak pipeline of protectable inventions. The pronounced fall after the 1980s coincides with periods of political instability and limited R&D investment, while the recent uptick may signal nascent reforms in intellectual‑property policy or increased engagement with foreign firms. Sustained growth will likely require stronger university‑industry linkages, enhanced funding for research, and streamlined patent procedures to lift the trajectory beyond the current baseline.
Data & projection
| Year | Patent Applications | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | −2 | #109 |
| 2020 | 4 | +3 | #110 |
| 2019 | 1 | −2 | #112 |
| 2018 | 3 | −1 | #114 |
| 2017 | 4 | +0 | #111 |
| 2016 | 4 | −3 | #107 |
| 2015 | 7 | +4 | #95 |
| 1995 | 3 | −7 | #94 |
| 1994 | 10 | +0 | #85 |
| 1993 | 10 | −1 | #84 |
| 1992 | 11 | +1 | #70 |
| 1991 | 10 | +0 | #64 |
| 1990 | 10 | −9 | #59 |
| 1989 | 19 | +3 | #51 |
| 1985 | 16 | −15 | #52 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
El Salvador matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1989. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw patent applications improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
El Salvador's patent applications was 2 in 2021. Ranked 109th globally. This represents a 50.0% decrease from the previous year.
El Salvador's patent applications peaked at 39 in 1983.
The lowest patent applications in El Salvador was 1 in 2019.
El Salvador ranks 109th globally in patent applications as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is IP.PAT.RESD. Data sourced from World Bank.
The patent applications of El Salvador in 2021 was 2. This ranks 109th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_el-salvador_patents,
title = {El Salvador Patent Applications},
url = {https://historysaid.com/el-salvador/patents/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}