Annual patent applications per million people in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Annual patent applications per million people was 173.07 applications per million people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Annual patent applications per million people in United Kingdom, 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
In 2021, annual patent applications per million people in United Kingdom stood at 173.07 applications per million people. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in United Kingdom peaked at 374.41 applications per million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 173.07 applications per million people, in 2021.
United Kingdom ranks 17th of 135 countries on this measure, 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 | 353.27 applications per million people | 338.4 applications per million people | 369.37 applications per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 328.04 applications per million people | 307.6 applications per million people | 363.53 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 313.62 applications per million people | 256.68 applications per million people | 374.41 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 221.58 applications per million people | 181.02 applications per million people | 246.79 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 176.36 applications per million people | 173.07 applications per million people | 179.65 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More science & technology data for United Kingdom
- Scientific and technical journal articles 97,536 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 84.10 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 121.64 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 121.64 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 7,263 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 95.5% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 11,592 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 2.7% (2023)
- Human resources in science and technology (HRST) by category and NUTS 21,623 Thousand persons (2019)
- Number of people using the Internet 65.09 million users (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in United Kingdom?
- Annual patent applications per million people in United Kingdom was 173.07 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 374.41 applications per million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 173.07 applications per million people in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- United Kingdom ranks 17th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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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