Annual patent applications per million people in Japan
Japan: Annual patent applications per million people was 1,770 applications per million people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Annual patent applications per million people in Japan, 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
The most recent figure for annual patent applications per million people in Japan is 1,770 applications per million people, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in Japan peaked at 3,054 applications per million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1,419 applications per million people, in 1980.
Japan ranks 2nd of 135 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,221 applications per million people | 1,419 applications per million people | 2,580 applications per million people | 8 |
| 1990s | 2,719 applications per million people | 2,556 applications per million people | 2,844 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,777 applications per million people | 2,306 applications per million people | 3,054 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,106 applications per million people | 1,938 applications per million people | 2,265 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,785 applications per million people | 1,770 applications per million people | 1,801 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 1 South Korea 3,598 applications per million people compare
- 3 China 1,010 applications per million people compare
- 4 United States 789.65 applications per million people compare
- 5 Germany 478.65 applications per million people compare
More science & technology data for Japan
- Scientific and technical journal articles 96,543 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 221.92 million (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 178.43 per 100 people (2023)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 178.43 per 100 people (2023)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 66,748 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 85.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 222,452 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 3.4% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 104.21 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 38.63 per 100 people (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in Japan?
- Annual patent applications per million people in Japan was 1,770 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 3,054 applications per million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,419 applications per million people in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- Japan ranks 2nd out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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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