Lesotho: Patent applications by residents

The latest value from 2019 is 1 patent applications, a decline from 4 patent applications in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 19057 patent applications, based on data from 113 countries. Historically, the average for Lesotho from 1995 to 2019 is 4 patent applications. The minimum value, 1 patent applications, was reached in 1996 while the maximum of 8 patent applications was recorded in 1995. See the global rankings or world map for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: 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.