Annual patent applications in South Korea
South Korea: Annual patent applications was 186,245 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications in South Korea, 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 South Korea is 186,245, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 34.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications in South Korea peaked at 186,245 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,241, in 1980.
That places South Korea 4th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1,241 | — |
| 1981 | 1,319 | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 1,556 | +18.0% |
| 1983 | 1,599 | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 1,997 | +24.9% |
| 1985 | 2,702 | +35.3% |
| 1986 | 3,640 | +34.7% |
| 1987 | 4,871 | +33.8% |
| 1988 | 5,696 | +16.9% |
| 1989 | 7,020 | +23.2% |
| 1990 | 9,082 | +29.4% |
| 1991 | 13,253 | +45.9% |
| 1992 | 15,951 | +20.4% |
| 1993 | 21,449 | +34.5% |
| 1994 | 28,554 | +33.1% |
| 1995 | 59,228 | +107.4% |
| 1996 | 68,405 | +15.5% |
| 1997 | 67,359 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 50,596 | -24.9% |
| 1999 | 55,970 | +10.6% |
| 2000 | 72,831 | +30.1% |
| 2001 | 73,714 | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 76,570 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 90,313 | +17.9% |
| 2004 | 105,250 | +16.5% |
| 2005 | 122,188 | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 125,476 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 128,701 | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 127,114 | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 127,316 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 131,805 | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 138,034 | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 148,136 | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 159,978 | +8.0% |
| 2014 | 164,073 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 167,275 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 163,424 | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 159,084 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 162,561 | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 171,603 | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 180,477 | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 186,245 | +3.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 186,245 is above the median for high income countries, which is 397.5, 468.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 186,245 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 875, 212.9× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual patent applications in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +107.4% | 28,554 | 59,228 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,164 | 1,241 | 7,020 | 10 |
| 1990s | 38,985 | 9,082 | 68,405 | 10 |
| 2000s | 104,947 | 72,831 | 128,701 | 10 |
| 2010s | 156,597 | 131,805 | 171,603 | 10 |
| 2020s | 183,361 | 180,477 | 186,245 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More science & technology data for South Korea
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 172.52 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.72 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 89.22 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 859.55 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 6.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 6.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 71,724 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0014 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications in South Korea?
- Annual patent applications in South Korea was 186,245 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 186,245 in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,241 in 1980.
- How does South Korea rank for annual patent applications?
- South Korea ranks 4th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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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