Annual patent applications per million people in Australia
Australia: Annual patent applications per million people was 115.47 applications per million people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Annual patent applications per million people in Australia, 1980–2021
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World i. Measured in applications per million people.
Analysis
Australia recorded 115.47 applications per million people for annual patent applications per million people in 2021.
The figure is up 25.1% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in Australia peaked at 138.72 applications per million people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 24.3 applications per million people, in 1982.
Australia ranks 25th of 135 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 50.53 applications per million people | 24.3 applications per million people | 98.07 applications per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.84 applications per million people | 94.3 applications per million people | 100.32 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 123.06 applications per million people | 101.32 applications per million people | 138.72 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 106.94 applications per million people | 84.68 applications per million people | 132.35 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.9 applications per million people | 92.32 applications per million people | 115.47 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 22 Monaco 129.78 applications per million people compare
- 23 Canada 123.17 applications per million people compare
- 24 Netherlands 118.63 applications per million people compare
- 26 Iran 115.42 applications per million people compare
- 27 Slovenia 105.31 applications per million people compare
- 28 Turkey 97.85 applications per million people compare
More science & technology data for Australia
- Scientific and technical journal articles 54,589 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 30.07 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 112.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 112.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 29,443 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 96.1% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 2,966 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.9% (2021)
- Number of people using the Internet 25.17 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 36.48 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in Australia?
- Annual patent applications per million people in Australia was 115.47 applications per million people in 2021, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World i.
- What is the highest annual patent applications per million people recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 138.72 applications per million people in 2006.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.3 applications per million people in 1982.
- How does Australia rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- Australia ranks 25th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World i, published as part of Annual patent applications per million people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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