Patent applications, residents in United States

United States: Patent applications, residents was 270,295 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
270,295
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
2nd
of 139 countries
All-time high
302,991
in 2016
All-time low
59,391
in 1983
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Patent applications, residents in United States, 1980–2024

50.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k300.0k1980200220241980: 62.1k1981: 62.4k1982: 63.3k1983: 59.4k1984: 61.8k1985: 63.7k1986: 65.2k1987: 68.3k1988: 75.2k1989: 82.4k1990: 90.6k1991: 88.0k1992: 92.4k1993: 100.0k1994: 107.2k1995: 124.0k1996: 106.9k1997: 119.2k1998: 134.7k1999: 149.3k2000: 151.8k2001: 163.5k2002: 173.2k2003: 182.0k2004: 188.2k2005: 202.7k2006: 214.7k2007: 232.7k2008: 226.0k2009: 229.0k2010: 247.8k2011: 254.2k2012: 272.8k2013: 292.3k2014: 291.3k2015: 295.2k2016: 303.0k2017: 302.7k2018: 294.7k2019: 303.0k2020: 288.0k2021: 282.5k2022: 273.7k2023: 278.4k2024: 270.3k

Source: WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans.

Analysis

The most recent figure for patent applications, residents in United States is 270,295, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, patent applications, residents in United States peaked at 302,991 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 59,391, in 1983.

United States ranks 2nd of 139 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Patent applications, residents in United States, year by year

Annual values for Patent applications, residents in United States, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 62,098 —
1981 62,404 +0.5%
1982 63,316 +1.5%
1983 59,391 -6.2%
1984 61,841 +4.1%
1985 63,673 +3.0%
1986 65,195 +2.4%
1987 68,315 +4.8%
1988 75,192 +10.1%
1989 82,370 +9.5%
1990 90,643 +10.0%
1991 87,955 -3.0%
1992 92,425 +5.1%
1993 99,955 +8.1%
1994 107,233 +7.3%
1995 123,962 +15.6%
1996 106,892 -13.8%
1997 119,214 +11.5%
1998 134,733 +13.0%
1999 149,251 +10.8%
2000 151,764 +1.7%
2001 163,469 +7.7%
2002 173,208 +6.0%
2003 182,024 +5.1%
2004 188,191 +3.4%
2005 202,722 +7.7%
2006 214,672 +5.9%
2007 232,669 +8.4%
2008 225,998 -2.9%
2009 229,005 +1.3%
2010 247,844 +8.2%
2011 254,170 +2.6%
2012 272,797 +7.3%
2013 292,276 +7.1%
2014 291,275 -0.3%
2015 295,151 +1.3%
2016 302,991 +2.7%
2017 302,741 -0.1%
2018 294,738 -2.6%
2019 302,986 +2.8%
2020 287,979 -5.0%
2021 282,476 -1.9%
2022 273,691 -3.1%
2023 278,446 +1.7%
2024 270,295 -2.9%

United States compared with similar countries

  • United States's 270,295 is above the median for high income countries, which is 322, 839.4× the median. (60 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 66,380 59,391 82,370 10
1990s 111,226 87,955 149,251 10
2000s 196,372 151,764 232,669 10
2010s 285,697 247,844 302,991 10
2020s 278,577 270,295 287,979 5

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 1 China 1.67 million compare
  2. 3 Japan 237,169 compare
  3. 4 South Korea 195,786 compare
  4. 5 India 63,217 compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More science & technology data for United States

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is patent applications, residents in United States?
Patent applications, residents in United States was 270,295 in 2024, according to WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans.
What is the highest patent applications, residents recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 302,991 in 2016.
What is the lowest patent applications, residents recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 59,391 in 1983.
How does United States rank for patent applications, residents?
United States ranks 2nd out of 139 countries with data for 2024.
Is patent applications, residents rising or falling in United States?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United States data come from?
The figures come from WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans, published as part of Patent applications, residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Patent applications, residents in United States. Statizoid, drawing on WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/patent-applications-residents/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Patent applications, residents
Source
WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), note: The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the trans
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
151 places, 4,717 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed

Patent applications are worldwide patent applications filed through the Patent Cooperation Treaty procedure or with a national patent office for exclusive rights for an invention--a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem. A patent provides protection for the invention to the owner of the patent for a limited period, generally 20 years.