Annual patent applications per million people in India
India: Annual patent applications per million people was 18.57 applications per million people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications per million people in India, 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
India recorded 18.57 applications per million people for annual patent applications per million people in 2021. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
The figure is up 12.6% on the previous year and up 165.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in India peaked at 18.57 applications per million people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.22 applications per million people, in 1987.
That places India 61st out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.38 applications per million people | 1.22 applications per million people | 1.76 applications per million people | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.67 applications per million people | 1.31 applications per million people | 2.21 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.88 applications per million people | 2.09 applications per million people | 5.93 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.52 applications per million people | 7.01 applications per million people | 14.01 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.54 applications per million people | 16.5 applications per million people | 18.57 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
- 58 Croatia 19.85 applications per million people compare
- 59 Estonia 18.78 applications per million people compare
- 60 Qatar 18.76 applications per million people compare
- 62 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16.33 applications per million people compare
- 63 Tunisia 15.3 applications per million people compare
- 64 Iraq 15.08 applications per million people compare
More science & technology data for India
- Scientific and technical journal articles 228,174 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 1.15 billion (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 79.35 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 79.35 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 35,306 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 70.0% (2025)
- Patent applications, residents 26,267 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 0.6% (2020)
- Number of people using the Internet 696.61 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 3.15 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in India?
- Annual patent applications per million people in India was 18.57 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 18.57 applications per million people in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.22 applications per million people in 1987.
- How does India rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- India ranks 61st out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 165.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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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