Annual patent applications in China
China: Annual patent applications was 1.43 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
1.43 million
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
1st
of 135 countries
All-time high
1.43 million
in 2021
All-time low
3,494
in 1986
Years of data
37
1985–2021
Annual patent applications in China, 1985–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, annual patent applications in China stood at 1.43 million. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 243.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in China peaked at 1.43 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3,494, in 1986.
That places China 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual patent applications in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 4,065 | — |
| 1986 | 3,494 | -14.0% |
| 1987 | 3,975 | +13.8% |
| 1988 | 4,780 | +20.3% |
| 1989 | 4,749 | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 5,832 | +22.8% |
| 1991 | 7,372 | +26.4% |
| 1992 | 10,022 | +35.9% |
| 1993 | 12,084 | +20.6% |
| 1994 | 11,191 | -7.4% |
| 1995 | 10,011 | -10.5% |
| 1996 | 11,628 | +16.2% |
| 1997 | 12,672 | +9.0% |
| 1998 | 13,751 | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 15,626 | +13.6% |
| 2000 | 25,346 | +62.2% |
| 2001 | 30,038 | +18.5% |
| 2002 | 39,806 | +32.5% |
| 2003 | 56,769 | +42.6% |
| 2004 | 65,786 | +15.9% |
| 2005 | 93,485 | +42.1% |
| 2006 | 122,318 | +30.8% |
| 2007 | 153,060 | +25.1% |
| 2008 | 194,579 | +27.1% |
| 2009 | 229,096 | +17.7% |
| 2010 | 293,066 | +27.9% |
| 2011 | 415,829 | +41.9% |
| 2012 | 535,313 | +28.7% |
| 2013 | 704,936 | +31.7% |
| 2014 | 801,135 | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 968,252 | +20.9% |
| 2016 | 1.20 million | +24.4% |
| 2017 | 1.25 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 1.39 million | +11.9% |
| 2019 | 1.24 million | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 1.34 million | +8.1% |
| 2021 | 1.43 million | +6.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.43 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 109, 13088.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- China's 1.43 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 875, 1630.4× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,213 | 3,494 | 4,780 | 5 |
| 1990s | 11,019 | 5,832 | 15,626 | 10 |
| 2000s | 101,028 | 25,346 | 229,096 | 10 |
| 2010s | 880,661 | 293,066 | 1.39 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.39 million | 1.34 million | 1.43 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 United States 262,244 compare
- 3 Japan 222,452 compare
- 4 South Korea 186,245 compare
More science & technology data for China
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 131.75 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.33 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 1.87 billion (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 194.33 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 2.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 932,712 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0007 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in China?
- Annual patent applications in China was 1.43 million in 2021, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual patent applications recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.43 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,494 in 1986.
- How does China rank for annual patent applications?
- China ranks 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 243.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual patent applications. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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