Patent applications, residents in China

China: Patent applications, residents was 1.43 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
1.43 million
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
1st
of 135 countries
All-time high
1.43 million
in 2021
All-time low
3,494
in 1986
Years of data
37
1985–2021

Patent applications, residents in China, 1985–2021

0500.0k1.0M1.5M1985200320211985: 4.1k1986: 3.5k1987: 4.0k1988: 4.8k1989: 4.7k1990: 5.8k1991: 7.4k1992: 10.0k1993: 12.1k1994: 11.2k1995: 10.0k1996: 11.6k1997: 12.7k1998: 13.8k1999: 15.6k2000: 25.3k2001: 30.0k2002: 39.8k2003: 56.8k2004: 65.8k2005: 93.5k2006: 122.3k2007: 153.1k2008: 194.6k2009: 229.1k2010: 293.1k2011: 415.8k2012: 535.3k2013: 704.9k2014: 801.1k2015: 968.3k2016: 1.2M2017: 1.2M2018: 1.4M2019: 1.2M2020: 1.3M2021: 1.4M

Source: WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans.

Analysis

The most recent figure for patent applications, residents in China is 1.43 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 243.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, patent applications, residents in China peaked at 1.43 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3,494, in 1986.

China ranks 1st of 135 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 4,213 3,494 4,780 5
1990s 11,019 5,832 15,626 10
2000s 101,028 25,346 229,096 10
2010s 880,661 293,066 1.39 million 10
2020s 1.39 million 1.34 million 1.43 million 2

Countries ranked near China

  1. 2 United States 262,244 compare
  2. 3 Japan 222,452 compare
  3. 4 South Korea 186,245 compare

See the full ranking of 147 places →

More science & technology data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is patent applications, residents in China?
Patent applications, residents in China was 1.43 million in 2021, according to WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans.
What is the highest patent applications, residents recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 1.43 million in 2021.
What is the lowest patent applications, residents recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 3,494 in 1986.
How does China rank for patent applications, residents?
China ranks 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
Is patent applications, residents rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 243.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans, published as part of Patent applications, residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator
Patent applications, residents
Source
WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
147 places, 4,224 data points, 1980–2021
Last refreshed

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.