Annual patent applications in France
France: Annual patent applications was 13,386 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Annual patent applications in France, 1980–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
France recorded 13,386 for annual patent applications in 2021.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in France peaked at 14,748 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 10,681, in 1982.
That places France 8th out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11,704 | 10,681 | 12,695 | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,810 | 12,378 | 13,592 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,096 | 13,499 | 14,722 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,447 | 14,103 | 14,748 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,078 | 12,771 | 13,386 | 2 |
Countries ranked near France
More science & technology data for France
- Scientific and technical journal articles 62,180 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 77.53 million (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 116.69 per 100 people (2023)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 116.69 per 100 people (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 1,373 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 88.7% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 13,386 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 2.2% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 21,189 Thousand persons (2025)
- Number of people using the Internet 56.90 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in France?
- Annual patent applications in France was 13,386 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 14,748 in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,681 in 1982.
- How does France rank for annual patent applications?
- France ranks 8th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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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