China vs United States: Annual patent applications per million people
China
1,010 applications per million people
in 2021
United States
789.65 applications per million people
in 2021
China rank
3rd
United States rank
4th
Annual patent applications per million people over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 1,010 applications per million people against 789.65 applications per million people in United States, a difference of 220.35 applications per million people.
That makes China's figure about 1.3 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 37 shared years of data; in 1985 it was United States ahead.
China ranks 3rd and United States ranks 4th of 135 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 | 3.88 applications per million people | 292.47 applications per million people | 288.59 applications per million people | United States |
| 1990s | 9.15 applications per million people | 418.61 applications per million people | 409.46 applications per million people | United States |
| 2000s | 76.97 applications per million people | 688.87 applications per million people | 611.9 applications per million people | United States |
| 2010s | 636.38 applications per million people | 867.1 applications per million people | 230.72 applications per million people | United States |
| 2020s | 981.57 applications per million people | 801.35 applications per million people | 180.22 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 United States?
- China, at 1,010 applications per million people against 789.65 applications per million people in United States as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications per million people between China and United States?
- 220.35 applications per million people, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 37 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2021.
- How do China and United States rank globally for annual patent applications per million people?
- China ranks 3rd and United States ranks 4th 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.