China vs United States: Life science patents granted, by filing office
China
61,617 patents
in 2023
United States
31,977 patents
in 2023
China rank
1st
United States rank
2nd
Life science patents granted, by filing office over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 61,617 patents against 31,977 patents in United States, a difference of 29,640 patents.
That makes China's figure about 1.9 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 44 shared years of data; in 1980 it was United States ahead.
China ranks 1st and United States ranks 2nd of 70 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, China averaged higher in 1 and United States in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 patents | 4,420 patents | 4,420 patents | United States |
| 1990s | 219.6 patents | 10,556 patents | 10,336 patents | United States |
| 2000s | 5,186 patents | 14,395 patents | 9,209 patents | United States |
| 2010s | 22,762 patents | 27,626 patents | 4,864 patents | United States |
| 2020s | 50,622 patents | 34,010 patents | 16,612 patents | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher life science patents granted, by filing office, China or United States?
- China, at 61,617 patents against 31,977 patents in United States as of 2023.
- What is the difference in life science patents granted, by filing office between China and United States?
- 29,640 patents, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 44 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2023.
- How do China and United States rank globally for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- China ranks 1st and United States ranks 2nd of 70 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Life science patents granted, by filing office. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Patents granted within the fields of medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals by filing office. These patents cover a wide range of innovations, such as medical devices, diagnostic methods, genetic engineering techniques, biotechnological processes and new drugs.