Germany vs Japan: Annual patent applications per million people
Germany
478.65 applications per million people
in 2021
Japan
1,770 applications per million people
in 2021
Germany rank
5th
Japan rank
2nd
Annual patent applications per million people over time
- Germany
- Japan
How they compare
Japan currently reports 1,770 applications per million people against 478.65 applications per million people in Germany, a difference of 1,291 applications per million people.
That makes Japan's figure about 3.7 times Germany's.
Across all 40 years both countries report, Japan has been ahead every year.
Germany ranks 5th and Japan ranks 2nd of 135 countries.
Japan has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Germany | Japan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 402.61 applications per million people | 2,221 applications per million people | 1,818 applications per million people | Japan |
| 1990s | 479.09 applications per million people | 2,719 applications per million people | 2,239 applications per million people | Japan |
| 2000s | 591.49 applications per million people | 2,777 applications per million people | 2,185 applications per million people | Japan |
| 2010s | 579.25 applications per million people | 2,106 applications per million people | 1,526 applications per million people | Japan |
| 2020s | 493.41 applications per million people | 1,785 applications per million people | 1,292 applications per million people | Japan |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications per million people, Germany or Japan?
- Japan, at 1,770 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 Germany and Japan?
- 1,291 applications per million people, with Japan ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and Japan?
- 40 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
- How do Germany and Japan rank globally for annual patent applications per million people?
- Germany ranks 5th and Japan ranks 2nd 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.