Canada vs Switzerland: Annual patent applications per million people
Canada
123.17 applications per million people
in 2021
Switzerland
147.97 applications per million people
in 2021
Canada rank
23rd
Switzerland rank
20th
Annual patent applications per million people over time
- Canada
- Switzerland
How they compare
Switzerland currently reports 147.97 applications per million people against 123.17 applications per million people in Canada, a difference of 24.8 applications per million people.
That makes Switzerland's figure about 1.2 times Canada's.
Across all 42 years both countries report, Switzerland has been ahead every year.
Canada ranks 23rd and Switzerland ranks 20th of 135 countries.
Switzerland has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Canada | Switzerland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 86.66 applications per million people | 541.61 applications per million people | 454.95 applications per million people | Switzerland |
| 1990s | 102.25 applications per million people | 384.79 applications per million people | 282.53 applications per million people | Switzerland |
| 2000s | 146.35 applications per million people | 238.65 applications per million people | 92.29 applications per million people | Switzerland |
| 2010s | 123.01 applications per million people | 178.49 applications per million people | 55.48 applications per million people | Switzerland |
| 2020s | 120.12 applications per million people | 154.09 applications per million people | 33.97 applications per million people | Switzerland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications per million people, Canada or Switzerland?
- Switzerland, at 147.97 applications per million people against 123.17 applications per million people in Canada as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications per million people between Canada and Switzerland?
- 24.8 applications per million people, with Switzerland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and Switzerland?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
- How do Canada and Switzerland rank globally for annual patent applications per million people?
- Canada ranks 23rd and Switzerland ranks 20th of 135 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World i, published as Annual patent applications per million people. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.