Annual patent applications in North Korea
North Korea: Annual patent applications was 6,937 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Annual patent applications in North Korea, 2005–2020
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 North Korea is 6,937, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 6.0% on the previous year and down 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in North Korea peaked at 8,354 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 5,861, in 2005.
North Korea ranks 13th of 135 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Annual patent applications in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5,861 | — |
| 2006 | 6,350 | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 6,846 | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 7,956 | +16.2% |
| 2010 | 8,018 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 7,956 | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 8,354 | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 8,095 | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 7,846 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 7,377 | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 6,937 | -6.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 6,937 is above the median for low income countries, which is 14, 495.5× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 6,937 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 875, 7.9× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,753 | 5,861 | 7,956 | 4 |
| 2010s | 7,941 | 7,377 | 8,354 | 6 |
| 2020s | 6,937 | 6,937 | 6,937 | 1 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More science & technology data for North Korea
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 24.13 (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.2413 units per person (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 6.35 million (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 52.77 units per square kilometre (2022)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 5.5 % change on previous year (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.89 % change on previous year (2022)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 6 (2020)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 6 (2020)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, per capita 0 units per person (2020)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, per square kilometre 0 units per square kilometre (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in North Korea?
- Annual patent applications in North Korea was 6,937 in 2020, 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 8,354 in 2012.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,861 in 2005.
- How does North Korea rank for annual patent applications?
- North Korea ranks 13th out of 135 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea 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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