China vs Germany: Annual patent applications per million people
China
1,010 applications per million people
in 2021
Germany
478.65 applications per million people
in 2021
China rank
3rd
Germany rank
5th
Annual patent applications per million people over time
- China
- Germany
How they compare
China currently reports 1,010 applications per million people against 478.65 applications per million people in Germany, a difference of 531.35 applications per million people.
That makes China's figure about 2.1 times Germany's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 37 shared years of data; in 1985 it was Germany ahead.
China ranks 3rd and Germany ranks 5th of 135 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and Germany in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Germany | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.88 applications per million people | 407.71 applications per million people | 403.83 applications per million people | Germany |
| 1990s | 9.15 applications per million people | 479.09 applications per million people | 469.94 applications per million people | Germany |
| 2000s | 76.97 applications per million people | 591.49 applications per million people | 514.52 applications per million people | Germany |
| 2010s | 636.38 applications per million people | 579.25 applications per million people | 57.13 applications per million people | China |
| 2020s | 981.57 applications per million people | 493.41 applications per million people | 488.16 applications per million people | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications per million people, China or Germany?
- China, at 1,010 applications per million people against 478.65 applications per million people in Germany as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications per million people between China and Germany?
- 531.35 applications per million people, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Germany?
- 37 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2021.
- How do China and Germany rank globally for annual patent applications per million people?
- China ranks 3rd and Germany ranks 5th 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) β 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.