China vs United Kingdom: Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications

China
13,210 Patents
in 2023
United Kingdom
4,653 Patents
in 2023
China rank
4th
United Kingdom rank
3rd

Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications over time

  • China
  • United Kingdom
05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k197820002023

How they compare

China currently reports 13,210 Patents against 4,653 Patents in United Kingdom, a difference of 8,557 Patents.

That makes China's figure about 2.8 times United Kingdom's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 46 shared years of data; in 1978 it was United Kingdom ahead.

China ranks 4th and United Kingdom ranks 3rd of 88 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and United Kingdom in 4.

Head to head by decade

Decade China United Kingdom Difference Ahead
1970s 0 Patents 755.15 Patents 755.15 Patents United Kingdom
1980s 11.35 Patents 2,661 Patents 2,650 Patents United Kingdom
1990s 30.78 Patents 3,376 Patents 3,345 Patents United Kingdom
2000s 918.78 Patents 4,583 Patents 3,664 Patents United Kingdom
2010s 7,776 Patents 4,908 Patents 2,868 Patents China
2020s 16,864 Patents 5,127 Patents 11,737 Patents China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patents by wipo technology domains — patent applications, China or United Kingdom?
China, at 13,210 Patents against 4,653 Patents in United Kingdom as of 2023.
What is the difference in patents by wipo technology domains — patent applications between China and United Kingdom?
8,557 Patents, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and United Kingdom?
46 years are reported by both, from 1978 to 2023.
How do China and United Kingdom rank globally for patents by wipo technology domains — patent applications?
China ranks 4th and United Kingdom ranks 3rd 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 United Kingdom: Patents by WIPO technology domains — Patent applications. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patents-by-wipo-technology-domains-patent-applications/china/united-kingdom-2/

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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)