Annual patent applications per million people in United States
United States: Annual patent applications per million people was 789.65 applications per million people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Annual patent applications per million people in United States, 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 United States is 789.65 applications per million people, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patent applications per million people in United States peaked at 910.51 applications per million people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 254.03 applications per million people, in 1983.
United States ranks 4th of 135 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 279.72 applications per million people | 254.03 applications per million people | 333.73 applications per million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 418.61 applications per million people | 347.67 applications per million people | 534.87 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 688.87 applications per million people | 584.04 applications per million people | 801.2 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 867.1 applications per million people | 782.14 applications per million people | 910.51 applications per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 801.35 applications per million people | 789.65 applications per million people | 813.04 applications per million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 1 South Korea 3,598 applications per million people compare
- 2 Japan 1,770 applications per million people compare
- 3 China 1,010 applications per million people compare
- 5 Germany 478.65 applications per million people compare
- 6 Singapore 371.13 applications per million people compare
- 7 Finland 281 applications per million people compare
More science & technology data for United States
- Scientific and technical journal articles 430,843 (2023)
- Mobile phone subscriptions 390.99 million (2024)
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people 113.19 per 100 people (2024)
- Mobile and landline phone subscriptions per 100 people 113.19 per 100 people (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 329,229 (2021)
- Share of the population using the Internet 94.7% (2024)
- Patent applications, residents 262,244 (2021)
- Research and development expenditure 3.4% (2023)
- Number of people using the Internet 310.46 million users (2021)
- Landline Internet subscriptions per 100 people 38.86 per 100 people (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patent applications per million people in United States?
- Annual patent applications per million people in United States was 789.65 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 910.51 applications per million people in 2016.
- What is the lowest annual patent applications per million people recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 254.03 applications per million people in 1983.
- How does United States rank for annual patent applications per million people?
- United States ranks 4th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual patent applications per million people rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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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