China vs Japan: Annual patent applications
China
1.43 million
in 2021
Japan
222,452
in 2021
China rank
1st
Japan rank
3rd
Annual patent applications over time
- China
- Japan
How they compare
China currently reports 1.43 million against 222,452 in Japan, a difference of 1.20 million.
That makes China's figure about 6.4 times Japan's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 37 shared years of data; in 1985 it was Japan ahead.
China ranks 1st and Japan ranks 3rd of 135 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and Japan in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Japan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,213 | 300,411 | 296,198 | Japan |
| 1990s | 11,019 | 340,455 | 329,436 | Japan |
| 2000s | 101,028 | 354,413 | 253,385 | Japan |
| 2010s | 880,661 | 268,074 | 612,587 | China |
| 2020s | 1.39 million | 224,900 | 1.16 million | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications, China or Japan?
- China, at 1.43 million against 222,452 in Japan as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications between China and Japan?
- 1.20 million, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Japan?
- 37 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2021.
- How do China and Japan rank globally for annual patent applications?
- China ranks 1st and Japan ranks 3rd 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.