North Korea vs Singapore: Annual patent applications per million people
North Korea
265.42 applications per million people
in 2020
Singapore
371.13 applications per million people
in 2021
North Korea rank
8th
Singapore rank
6th
Annual patent applications per million people over time
- North Korea
- Singapore
How they compare
Singapore currently reports 371.13 applications per million people against 265.42 applications per million people in North Korea, a difference of 105.71 applications per million people.
That makes Singapore's figure about 1.4 times North Korea's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 11 shared years of data; in 2005 it was North Korea ahead.
North Korea ranks 8th and Singapore ranks 6th of 135 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, North Korea averaged higher in 2 and Singapore in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | North Korea | Singapore | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 274.18 applications per million people | 144.42 applications per million people | 129.76 applications per million people | North Korea |
| 2010s | 311.45 applications per million people | 242.05 applications per million people | 69.39 applications per million people | North Korea |
| 2020s | 265.42 applications per million people | 312.71 applications per million people | 47.29 applications per million people | Singapore |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications per million people, North Korea or Singapore?
- Singapore, at 371.13 applications per million people against 265.42 applications per million people in North Korea as of 2021.
- What is the difference in annual patent applications per million people between North Korea and Singapore?
- 105.71 applications per million people, with Singapore ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for North Korea and Singapore?
- 11 years are reported by both, from 2005 to 2020.
- How do North Korea and Singapore rank globally for annual patent applications per million people?
- North Korea ranks 8th and Singapore ranks 6th 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.