South Korea vs United States: Annual patent applications per million people
South Korea
3,598 applications per million people
in 2021
United States
789.65 applications per million people
in 2021
South Korea rank
1st
United States rank
4th
Annual patent applications per million people over time
- South Korea
- United States
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 3,598 applications per million people against 789.65 applications per million people in United States, a difference of 2,808 applications per million people.
That makes South Korea's figure about 4.6 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 42 shared years of data; in 1980 it was United States ahead.
South Korea ranks 1st and United States ranks 4th of 135 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, South Korea averaged higher in 4 and United States in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Korea | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 76.81 applications per million people | 279.72 applications per million people | 202.9 applications per million people | United States |
| 1990s | 858.31 applications per million people | 418.61 applications per million people | 439.71 applications per million people | South Korea |
| 2000s | 2,173 applications per million people | 688.87 applications per million people | 1,484 applications per million people | South Korea |
| 2010s | 3,081 applications per million people | 867.1 applications per million people | 2,214 applications per million people | South Korea |
| 2020s | 3,540 applications per million people | 801.35 applications per million people | 2,738 applications per million people | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual patent applications per million people, South Korea or United States?
- South Korea, at 3,598 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 South Korea and United States?
- 2,808 applications per million people, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Korea and United States?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
- How do South Korea and United States rank globally for annual patent applications per million people?
- South Korea ranks 1st 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.