China vs World: Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications

China
13,210 Patents
in 2023
World
140,083 Patents
in 2023
China rank
4th
World rank
1st

Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications over time

  • China
  • World
050.0k100.0k150.0k197820002023

How they compare

World currently reports 140,083 Patents against 13,210 Patents in China, a difference of 126,873 Patents.

That makes World's figure about 10.6 times China's.

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

China ranks 4th and World ranks 1st of 88 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade China World Difference Ahead
1970s 0 Patents 8,148 Patents 8,148 Patents World
1980s 11.35 Patents 37,995 Patents 37,983 Patents World
1990s 30.78 Patents 71,486 Patents 71,455 Patents World
2000s 918.78 Patents 126,989 Patents 126,071 Patents World
2010s 7,776 Patents 152,351 Patents 144,575 Patents World
2020s 16,864 Patents 164,982 Patents 148,118 Patents World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications, China or World?
World, at 140,083 Patents against 13,210 Patents in China as of 2023.
What is the difference in patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications between China and World?
126,873 Patents, with World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and World?
46 years are reported by both, from 1978 to 2023.
How do China and World rank globally for patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications?
China ranks 4th and World ranks 1st of 88 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs World: Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/compare/patents-in-oecd-selected-technologies-patent-applications/china/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Patents in OECD selected technologies — 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 (including total patents, estimated total patents for latest years): EPO, USPTO, PCT and Patent Families indicators are presented for selected technology domains such as ICT, Artificial Intelligence, nanotechnology, biotechnology as well as environment-related and health-related technologies.