Australia vs Canada: Annual patent applications
Australia
2,966
in 2021
Canada
4,710
in 2021
Australia rank
17th
Canada rank
14th
Annual patent applications over time
- Australia
- Canada
How they compare
Canada currently reports 4,710 against 2,966 in Australia, a difference of 1,744.
That makes Canada's figure about 1.6 times Australia's.
Across all 42 years both countries report, Canada has been ahead every year.
Australia ranks 17th and Canada ranks 14th of 135 countries.
Canada has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Australia | Canada | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 809.9 | 2,244 | 1,434 | Canada |
| 1990s | 1,755 | 2,987 | 1,232 | Canada |
| 2000s | 2,488 | 4,710 | 2,222 | Canada |
| 2010s | 2,528 | 4,377 | 1,850 | Canada |
| 2020s | 2,667 | 4,581 | 1,914 | Canada |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications, Australia or Canada?
- Canada, at 4,710 against 2,966 in Australia as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications between Australia and Canada?
- 1,744, with Canada ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Canada?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
- How do Australia and Canada rank globally for annual patent applications?
- Australia ranks 17th and Canada ranks 14th of 135 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Annual patent applications. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.