Annual patent applications per million people in South Korea
South Korea: Annual patent applications per million people was 3,598 applications per million people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Annual patent applications per million people in South Korea, 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
South Korea recorded 3,598 applications per million people for annual patent applications per million people in 2021. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in South Korea peaked at 3,598 applications per million people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 32.55 applications per million people, in 1980.
South Korea ranks 1st of 135 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 | 76.81 applications per million people | 32.55 applications per million people | 165.38 applications per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 858.31 applications per million people | 211.85 applications per million people | 1,503 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,173 applications per million people | 1,549 applications per million people | 2,644 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,081 applications per million people | 2,660 applications per million people | 3,315 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,540 applications per million people | 3,482 applications per million people | 3,598 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More science & technology data for South Korea
- Scientific and technical journal articles 71,724 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 89.22 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 172.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 172.52 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 51,753 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 97.9% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 186,245 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 4.9% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 50.59 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 47.8 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in South Korea?
- Annual patent applications per million people in South Korea was 3,598 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3,598 applications per million people in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.55 applications per million people in 1980.
- How does South Korea rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- South Korea ranks 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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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