Germany vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Patent applications to the EPO by priority year

Germany
18,882
in 2017
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
5,437
in 2017
Germany rank
3rd
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
6th

Patent applications to the EPO by priority year over time

  • Germany
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k197919982017

How they compare

Germany currently reports 18,882 against 5,437 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 13,445.

That makes Germany's figure about 3.5 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.

Across all 39 years both countries report, Germany has been ahead every year.

Germany ranks 3rd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 6th of 47 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1970s 4,986 1,661 3,325 Germany
1980s 8,994 3,103 5,891 Germany
1990s 14,486 4,122 10,364 Germany
2000s 23,051 5,666 17,384 Germany
2010s 21,321 5,449 15,872 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Germany, at 18,882 against 5,437 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2017.
What is the difference in patent applications to the epo by priority year between Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
13,445, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
39 years are reported by both, from 1979 to 2017.
How do Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for patent applications to the epo by priority year?
Germany ranks 3rd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 6th 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Patent applications to the EPO by priority year. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patent-applications-to-the-epo-by-priority-year-1977-2017/germany/united-kingdom/

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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