Patent applications, nonresidents in North America
North America: Patent applications, nonresidents was 357,699 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Patent applications, nonresidents in North America, 1980–2020
Source: WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans.
Analysis
The most recent figure for patent applications, nonresidents in North America is 357,699, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and up 28.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, patent applications, nonresidents in North America peaked at 368,590 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 64,930, in 1980.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Patent applications, nonresidents in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 64,930 | — |
| 1981 | 67,276 | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 70,192 | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 68,002 | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 74,152 | +9.0% |
| 1985 | 77,044 | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 81,317 | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 90,120 | +10.8% |
| 1988 | 97,513 | +8.2% |
| 1989 | 108,397 | +11.2% |
| 1990 | 104,895 | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 105,257 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 113,872 | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 107,548 | -5.6% |
| 1994 | 120,205 | +11.8% |
| 1995 | 128,341 | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 130,041 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 126,520 | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 132,409 | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 149,701 | +13.1% |
| 2000 | 166,535 | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 184,711 | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 185,982 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 186,799 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 200,377 | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 217,571 | +8.6% |
| 2006 | 240,698 | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 249,940 | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 261,761 | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 263,604 | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 279,148 | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 286,189 | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 304,566 | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 313,955 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 324,989 | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 333,762 | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 340,911 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 344,021 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 343,858 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 368,590 | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 357,699 | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 79,894 | 64,930 | 108,397 | 10 |
| 1990s | 121,879 | 104,895 | 149,701 | 10 |
| 2000s | 215,798 | 166,535 | 263,604 | 10 |
| 2010s | 323,999 | 279,148 | 368,590 | 10 |
| 2020s | 357,699 | 357,699 | 357,699 | 1 |
Countries ranked near North America
More science & technology data for North America
- Scientific and technical journal articles 494,654 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0013 units per person (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per square kilometre 0.0276 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Digital connectivity composite index 0.9882 standard deviations from the yearly mean (2025)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, annual growth rate -3.84 % change on previous year (2023)
- Patent applications, residents 274,038 (2020)
- Research and development expenditure 3.3% (2023)
- Researchers in R&D 5,009 per million people (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is patent applications, nonresidents in North America?
- Patent applications, nonresidents in North America was 357,699 in 2020, according to WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans.
- What is the highest patent applications, nonresidents recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 368,590 in 2019.
- What is the lowest patent applications, nonresidents recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 64,930 in 1980.
- How does North America rank for patent applications, nonresidents?
- North America ranks 3rd out of 12 groups with data for 2020.
- Is patent applications, nonresidents rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans, published as part of Patent applications, nonresidents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Patent applications are worldwide patent applications filed through the Patent Cooperation Treaty procedure or with a national patent office for exclusive rights for an invention--a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem. A patent provides protection for the invention to the owner of the patent for a limited period, generally 20 years.