Annual patent applications per million people in New Zealand
New Zealand: Annual patent applications per million people was 64.9 applications per million people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Annual patent applications per million people in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 64.9 applications per million people, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 81.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in New Zealand peaked at 514.51 applications per million people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 64.9 applications per million people, in 2021.
That places New Zealand 33rd out of 135 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 304.18 applications per million people | 244.56 applications per million people | 368.79 applications per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 329.32 applications per million people | 240.85 applications per million people | 415.73 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 423.44 applications per million people | 294.85 applications per million people | 514.51 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 272.38 applications per million people | 65.19 applications per million people | 364.31 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.75 applications per million people | 64.9 applications per million people | 68.61 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 30 Iceland 91.27 applications per million people compare
- 31 Belgium 68.96 applications per million people compare
- 32 Portugal 68.62 applications per million people compare
- 34 Latvia 55.19 applications per million people compare
- 35 Hong Kong 54.09 applications per million people compare
- 36 Czechia 51.5 applications per million people compare
More science & technology data for New Zealand
- Scientific and technical journal articles 8,096 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 6.78 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 130.09 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 130.09 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 6,522 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 93.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 330 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 1.5% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 4.70 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 38.05 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in New Zealand?
- Annual patent applications per million people in New Zealand was 64.9 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 514.51 applications per million people in 2006.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.9 applications per million people in 2021.
- How does New Zealand rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- New Zealand ranks 33rd out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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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