Germany vs South Korea: Annual patent applications
Germany
39,822
in 2021
South Korea
186,245
in 2021
Germany rank
5th
South Korea rank
4th
Annual patent applications over time
- Germany
- South Korea
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 186,245 against 39,822 in Germany, a difference of 146,423.
That makes South Korea's figure about 4.7 times Germany's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 42 shared years of data; in 1980 it was Germany ahead.
Germany ranks 5th and South Korea ranks 4th of 135 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, Germany averaged higher in 1 and South Korea in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Germany | South Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31,188 | 3,164 | 28,024 | Germany |
| 1990s | 38,978 | 38,985 | 6.6 | South Korea |
| 2000s | 48,692 | 104,947 | 56,255 | South Korea |
| 2010s | 47,306 | 156,597 | 109,291 | South Korea |
| 2020s | 41,041 | 183,361 | 142,320 | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications, Germany or South Korea?
- South Korea, at 186,245 against 39,822 in Germany as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications between Germany and South Korea?
- 146,423, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and South Korea?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
- How do Germany and South Korea rank globally for annual patent applications?
- Germany ranks 5th and South Korea ranks 4th of 135 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) β 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.