Life science patents granted, by filing office in Japan
Japan: Life science patents granted, by filing office was 19,518 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by filing office in Japan, 1980–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life science patents granted, by filing office in Japan is 19,518 patents, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by filing office in Japan peaked at 19,518 patents in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,220 patents, in 1980.
Japan ranks 3rd 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1,220 patents | — |
| 1981 | 1,902 patents | +55.9% |
| 1982 | 2,128 patents | +11.9% |
| 1983 | 1,588 patents | -25.4% |
| 1984 | 1,596 patents | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 2,102 patents | +31.7% |
| 1986 | 2,502 patents | +19.0% |
| 1987 | 2,456 patents | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 2,643 patents | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 2,474 patents | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 2,638 patents | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 4,251 patents | +61.1% |
| 1992 | 3,745 patents | -11.9% |
| 1993 | 4,083 patents | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 5,052 patents | +23.7% |
| 1995 | 4,592 patents | -9.1% |
| 1996 | 3,883 patents | -15.4% |
| 1997 | 4,564 patents | +17.5% |
| 1998 | 5,634 patents | +23.4% |
| 1999 | 5,448 patents | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 4,939 patents | -9.3% |
| 2001 | 4,496 patents | -9.0% |
| 2002 | 3,807 patents | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 4,171 patents | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 5,142 patents | +23.3% |
| 2005 | 5,270 patents | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 5,459 patents | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 6,513 patents | +19.3% |
| 2008 | 8,587 patents | +31.8% |
| 2009 | 10,443 patents | +21.6% |
| 2010 | 12,788 patents | +22.5% |
| 2011 | 14,773 patents | +15.5% |
| 2012 | 15,889 patents | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 17,385 patents | +9.4% |
| 2014 | 19,039 patents | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 15,743 patents | -17.3% |
| 2016 | 18,000 patents | +14.3% |
| 2017 | 16,592 patents | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 15,857 patents | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 14,987 patents | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 15,197 patents | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 16,675 patents | +9.7% |
| 2022 | 19,045 patents | +14.2% |
| 2023 | 19,518 patents | +2.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 19,518 patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 28 patents, 697.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,061 patents | 1,220 patents | 2,643 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,389 patents | 2,638 patents | 5,634 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,883 patents | 3,807 patents | 10,443 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 16,105 patents | 12,788 patents | 19,039 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,609 patents | 15,197 patents | 19,518 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 1 China 61,617 patents compare
- 2 United States 31,977 patents compare
- 4 South Korea 11,782 patents compare
- 5 Canada 5,904 patents compare
- 6 Australia 4,775 patents 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)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 69,686 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 69,686 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by filing office in Japan?
- Life science patents granted, by filing office in Japan was 19,518 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 19,518 patents in 2023.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,220 patents in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- Japan ranks 3rd out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by filing office rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.