Germany vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Patent applications, nonresidents

Germany
18,747
in 2021
Sub-Saharan Africa
8,160
in 2020
Germany rank
10th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
1st

Patent applications, nonresidents over time

  • Germany
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
5.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k198020002021

How they compare

Germany currently reports 18,747 against 8,160 in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 10,587.

That makes Germany's figure about 2.3 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

Across all 41 years both countries report, Germany has been ahead every year.

Germany ranks 10th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 1st of 150 countries.

Germany has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany Sub-Saharan Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 13,402 6,188 7,215 Germany
1990s 8,725 5,724 3,002 Germany
2000s 11,540 6,408 5,132 Germany
2010s 17,394 8,194 9,200 Germany
2020s 19,845 8,160 11,685 Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patent applications, nonresidents, Germany or Sub-Saharan Africa?
Germany, at 18,747 against 8,160 in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2021.
What is the difference in patent applications, nonresidents between Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa?
10,587, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa?
41 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2020.
How do Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for patent applications, nonresidents?
Germany ranks 10th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 1st of 150 countries.
Where does this data 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 Patent applications, nonresidents. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Germany vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Patent applications, nonresidents. Statizoid, drawing on 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. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patent-applications-nonresidents/germany/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Patent applications, nonresidents
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
162 places, 4,548 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.