China vs Germany: Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications

China
13,210 Patents
in 2023
Germany
18,453 Patents
in 2023
China rank
4th
Germany rank
2nd

Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications over time

  • China
  • Germany
05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k197820002023

How they compare

Germany currently reports 18,453 Patents against 13,210 Patents in China, a difference of 5,243 Patents.

That makes Germany's figure about 1.4 times China's.

Across all 46 years both countries report, Germany has been ahead every year.

China ranks 4th and Germany ranks 2nd of 88 countries.

Germany has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade China Germany Difference Ahead
1970s 0 Patents 2,297 Patents 2,297 Patents Germany
1980s 11.35 Patents 8,275 Patents 8,263 Patents Germany
1990s 30.78 Patents 13,402 Patents 13,372 Patents Germany
2000s 918.78 Patents 22,481 Patents 21,563 Patents Germany
2010s 7,776 Patents 22,949 Patents 15,173 Patents Germany
2020s 16,864 Patents 21,036 Patents 4,173 Patents Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patents by wipo technology domains — patent applications, China or Germany?
Germany, at 18,453 Patents against 13,210 Patents in China as of 2023.
What is the difference in patents by wipo technology domains — patent applications between China and Germany?
5,243 Patents, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Germany?
46 years are reported by both, from 1978 to 2023.
How do China and Germany rank globally for patents by wipo technology domains — patent applications?
China ranks 4th and Germany ranks 2nd of 88 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs Germany: Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patents-by-wipo-technology-domains-patent-applications/china/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications
Unit
Patents
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
104 places, 4,784 data points, 1978–2023
Last refreshed

Patent counts by technology domains developed by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)