Life science patents granted, by technology in China
China: Life science patents granted, by technology was 14,477 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in China, 1993–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
In 2023, life science patents granted, by technology in China stood at 14,477 patents. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.4% on the previous year and up 39.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in China peaked at 14,477 patents in 2023 and was at its lowest, 107 patents, in 1993.
That places China 1st out of 65 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Life science patents granted, by technology in China, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 107 patents | — |
| 1994 | 111 patents | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 115 patents | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 129 patents | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 156 patents | +20.9% |
| 1998 | 213 patents | +36.5% |
| 1999 | 340 patents | +59.6% |
| 2000 | 1,508 patents | +343.5% |
| 2001 | 1,527 patents | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1,117 patents | -26.9% |
| 2003 | 1,748 patents | +56.5% |
| 2004 | 3,062 patents | +75.2% |
| 2005 | 3,284 patents | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 4,182 patents | +27.3% |
| 2007 | 4,357 patents | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 4,191 patents | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 4,832 patents | +15.3% |
| 2010 | 5,816 patents | +20.4% |
| 2011 | 9,010 patents | +54.9% |
| 2012 | 9,885 patents | +9.7% |
| 2013 | 10,370 patents | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 10,936 patents | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 10,563 patents | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 9,330 patents | -11.7% |
| 2017 | 6,857 patents | -26.5% |
| 2018 | 7,960 patents | +16.1% |
| 2019 | 7,430 patents | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 8,999 patents | +21.1% |
| 2021 | 13,103 patents | +45.6% |
| 2022 | 12,883 patents | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 14,477 patents | +12.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 14,477 patents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 27 patents, 536.2× the median. (16 countries reporting)
- China's 14,477 patents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 343 patents, 42.2× the median. (9 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +343.5% | 340 patents | 1,508 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 167.29 patents | 107 patents | 340 patents | 7 |
| 2000s | 2,981 patents | 1,117 patents | 4,832 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,816 patents | 5,816 patents | 10,936 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,366 patents | 8,999 patents | 14,477 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 United States 6,365 patents compare
- 3 Japan 4,732 patents compare
- 4 South Korea 2,686 patents 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 life science patents granted, by technology in China?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in China was 14,477 patents in 2023, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 14,477 patents in 2023.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 107 patents in 1993.
- How does China rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- China ranks 1st out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.6%. 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) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Life science patents granted, by technology. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of pharmaceutical patents granted by the filing office in a given year. Pharmaceutical patents typically cover new drugs, biological treatments or vaccines.