Finland vs United States: Annual patent applications per million people
Finland
281 applications per million people
in 2021
United States
789.65 applications per million people
in 2021
Finland rank
7th
United States rank
4th
Annual patent applications per million people over time
- Finland
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 789.65 applications per million people against 281 applications per million people in Finland, a difference of 508.65 applications per million people.
That makes United States's figure about 2.8 times Finland's.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 42 shared years of data; in 1980 it was Finland ahead.
Finland ranks 7th and United States ranks 4th of 135 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, Finland averaged higher in 2 and United States in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Finland | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 351.59 applications per million people | 279.72 applications per million people | 71.87 applications per million people | Finland |
| 1990s | 437.59 applications per million people | 418.61 applications per million people | 18.99 applications per million people | Finland |
| 2000s | 384.92 applications per million people | 688.87 applications per million people | 303.96 applications per million people | United States |
| 2010s | 270.34 applications per million people | 867.1 applications per million people | 596.75 applications per million people | United States |
| 2020s | 284.09 applications per million people | 801.35 applications per million people | 517.26 applications per million people | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications per million people, Finland or United States?
- United States, at 789.65 applications per million people against 281 applications per million people in Finland as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications per million people between Finland and United States?
- 508.65 applications per million people, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Finland and United States?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
- How do Finland and United States rank globally for annual patent applications per million people?
- Finland ranks 7th 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) 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.