Life science patents granted, by filing office in China
China: Life science patents granted, by filing office was 61,617 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by filing office in China, 1980–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
In 2023, life science patents granted, by filing office in China stood at 61,617 patents. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.1% on the previous year and up 164.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by filing office in China peaked at 61,617 patents in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 patents, in 1980.
China ranks 1st of 70 countries on this measure, 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 filing office in China, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 patents | — |
| 1981 | 0 patents | — |
| 1982 | 0 patents | — |
| 1983 | 0 patents | — |
| 1984 | 0 patents | — |
| 1985 | 0 patents | — |
| 1986 | 0 patents | — |
| 1987 | 0 patents | — |
| 1988 | 0 patents | — |
| 1989 | 0 patents | — |
| 1990 | 0 patents | — |
| 1991 | 0 patents | — |
| 1992 | 0 patents | — |
| 1993 | 236 patents | — |
| 1994 | 295 patents | +25.0% |
| 1995 | 256 patents | -13.2% |
| 1996 | 245 patents | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 260 patents | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 398 patents | +53.1% |
| 1999 | 506 patents | +27.1% |
| 2000 | 2,011 patents | +297.4% |
| 2001 | 2,053 patents | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 1,625 patents | -20.8% |
| 2003 | 3,109 patents | +91.3% |
| 2004 | 5,404 patents | +73.8% |
| 2005 | 5,885 patents | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 6,947 patents | +18.0% |
| 2007 | 7,295 patents | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 7,709 patents | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 9,823 patents | +27.4% |
| 2010 | 11,511 patents | +17.2% |
| 2011 | 16,238 patents | +41.1% |
| 2012 | 20,737 patents | +27.7% |
| 2013 | 23,262 patents | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 24,178 patents | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 26,712 patents | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 27,421 patents | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 23,569 patents | -14.0% |
| 2018 | 25,996 patents | +10.3% |
| 2019 | 27,999 patents | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 34,824 patents | +24.4% |
| 2021 | 50,093 patents | +43.8% |
| 2022 | 55,955 patents | +11.7% |
| 2023 | 61,617 patents | +10.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 61,617 patents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1 patents, 61617.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by filing office 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 | +297.4% | 506 patents | 2,011 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 patents | 0 patents | 0 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 219.6 patents | 0 patents | 506 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,186 patents | 1,625 patents | 9,823 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 22,762 patents | 11,511 patents | 27,999 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,622 patents | 34,824 patents | 61,617 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 United States 31,977 patents compare
- 3 Japan 19,518 patents compare
- 4 South Korea 11,782 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)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 156,053 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 156,053 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by filing office in China?
- Life science patents granted, by filing office in China was 61,617 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 filing office recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 61,617 patents in 2023.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 patents in 1980.
- How does China rank for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- China ranks 1st out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by filing office rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 164.9%. 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 filing office. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Patents granted within the fields of medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals by filing office. These patents cover a wide range of innovations, such as medical devices, diagnostic methods, genetic engineering techniques, biotechnological processes and new drugs.