Germany vs Japan: Patent applications to the EPO by priority year

Germany
18,882
in 2017
Japan
21,380
in 2014
Germany rank
3rd
Japan rank
2nd

Patent applications to the EPO by priority year over time

  • Germany
  • Japan
05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k197919982017

How they compare

Japan currently reports 21,380 against 18,882 in Germany, a difference of 2,498.

That makes Japan's figure about 1.1 times Germany's.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 36 shared years of data; in 1979 it was Germany ahead.

Germany ranks 3rd and Japan ranks 2nd of 47 countries.

Germany has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany Japan Difference Ahead
1970s 4,986 1,602 3,384 Germany
1980s 8,994 7,029 1,964 Germany
1990s 14,486 13,579 907.01 Germany
2000s 23,051 21,383 1,667 Germany
2010s 22,104 21,540 564.14 Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patent applications to the epo by priority year, Germany or Japan?
Japan, at 21,380 against 18,882 in Germany as of 2014.
What is the difference in patent applications to the epo by priority year between Germany and Japan?
2,498, with Japan ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and Japan?
36 years are reported by both, from 1979 to 2014.
How do Germany and Japan rank globally for patent applications to the epo by priority year?
Germany ranks 3rd and Japan ranks 2nd of 47 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Eurostat, published as Patent applications to the EPO by priority year (1977-2017). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Germany vs Japan: Patent applications to the EPO by priority year. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patent-applications-to-the-epo-by-priority-year-1977-2017/germany/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Patent applications to the EPO by priority year (1977-2017)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
54 places, 1,866 data points, 1978–2017
Last refreshed