South Korea vs World: Patent applications, nonresidents

South Korea
50,459
in 2024
World
1.02 million
in 2024
South Korea rank
4th
World rank
1st

Patent applications, nonresidents over time

  • South Korea
  • World
0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M198020022024

How they compare

World currently reports 1.02 million against 50,459 in South Korea, a difference of 971,941.

That makes World's figure about 20.3 times South Korea's.

Across all 40 years both countries report, World has been ahead every year.

South Korea ranks 4th and World ranks 1st of 157 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade South Korea World Difference Ahead
1980s 11,967 285,940 273,973 World
1990s 19,477 357,600 338,123 World
2000s 35,578 640,780 605,202 World
2010s 44,311 873,390 829,079 World
2020s 50,909 1.00 million 952,871 World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patent applications, nonresidents, South Korea or World?
World, at 1.02 million against 50,459 in South Korea as of 2024.
What is the difference in patent applications, nonresidents between South Korea and World?
971,941, with World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Korea and World?
40 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2024.
How do South Korea and World rank globally for patent applications, nonresidents?
South Korea ranks 4th and World ranks 1st of 157 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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South Korea vs World: 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 08 November 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patent-applications-nonresidents/korea-rep/world/

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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
169 places, 5,085 data points, 1980–2024
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.