Annual patent applications in Japan
Japan: Annual patent applications was 222,452 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Annual patent applications in Japan, 1980–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual patent applications in Japan is 222,452, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in Japan peaked at 387,364 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 165,730, in 1980.
Japan ranks 3rd of 135 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Annual patent applications in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 165,730 | — |
| 1983 | 227,708 | +37.4% |
| 1984 | 256,205 | +12.5% |
| 1985 | 274,373 | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 290,202 | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 311,006 | +7.2% |
| 1988 | 308,908 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 317,566 | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 333,230 | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 335,933 | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 338,019 | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 332,345 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 319,938 | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 334,612 | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 340,101 | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 350,807 | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 359,381 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 360,180 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 387,364 | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 386,767 | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 369,458 | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 358,184 | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 368,416 | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 367,960 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 347,060 | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 333,498 | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 330,110 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 295,315 | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 290,081 | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 287,580 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 287,013 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 271,731 | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 265,959 | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 258,839 | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 260,244 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 260,292 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 253,630 | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 245,372 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 227,348 | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 222,452 | -2.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 222,452 is above the median for high income countries, which is 397.5, 559.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Japan's 222,452 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 875, 254.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual patent applications in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +37.4% | 165,730 | 227,708 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 268,962 | 165,730 | 317,566 | 8 |
| 1990s | 340,455 | 319,938 | 360,180 | 10 |
| 2000s | 354,413 | 295,315 | 387,364 | 10 |
| 2010s | 268,074 | 245,372 | 290,081 | 10 |
| 2020s | 224,900 | 222,452 | 227,348 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 1 China 1.43 million compare
- 2 United States 262,244 compare
- 4 South Korea 186,245 compare
- 5 Germany 39,822 compare
- 6 India 26,267 compare
More science & technology data for Japan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 178.43 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.78 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 221.92 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 608.71 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 5.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.3 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 96,543 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0008 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in Japan?
- Annual patent applications in Japan was 222,452 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 387,364 in 2000.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 165,730 in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for annual patent applications?
- Japan ranks 3rd out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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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