Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications in World

World: Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications was 140,083 Patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
140,083 Patents
Change on year
down 18.9%
Rank
1st
of 3 regions
All-time high
173,826 Patents
in 2021
All-time low
3,904 Patents
in 1978
Years of data
46
1978–2023

Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications in World, 1978–2023

050.0k100.0k150.0k197820002023

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Patents.

Analysis

In 2023, patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications in World stood at 140,083 Patents.

The figure is down 18.9% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications in World peaked at 173,826 Patents in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3,904 Patents, in 1978.

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

Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications in World, year by year

Annual values for Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications in World, 1978 to 2023.
Year Patents Change
1978 3,904 Patents
1979 12,393 Patents +217.4%
1980 19,724 Patents +59.2%
1981 24,958 Patents +26.5%
1982 28,522 Patents +14.3%
1983 31,609 Patents +10.8%
1984 36,952 Patents +16.9%
1985 39,375 Patents +6.6%
1986 43,084 Patents +9.4%
1987 45,814 Patents +6.3%
1988 52,184 Patents +13.9%
1989 57,726 Patents +10.6%
1990 63,905 Patents +10.7%
1991 59,277 Patents -7.2%
1992 60,627 Patents +2.3%
1993 60,074 Patents -0.9%
1994 62,052 Patents +3.3%
1995 65,382 Patents +5.4%
1996 71,582 Patents +9.5%
1997 80,826 Patents +12.9%
1998 91,510 Patents +13.2%
1999 99,622 Patents +8.9%
2000 110,734 Patents +11.2%
2001 117,310 Patents +5.9%
2002 116,021 Patents -1.1%
2003 120,404 Patents +3.8%
2004 126,829 Patents +5.3%
2005 134,275 Patents +5.9%
2006 139,031 Patents +3.5%
2007 138,397 Patents -0.5%
2008 136,570 Patents -1.3%
2009 130,323 Patents -4.6%
2010 135,474 Patents +4.0%
2011 140,658 Patents +3.8%
2012 144,445 Patents +2.7%
2013 148,082 Patents +2.5%
2014 152,154 Patents +2.7%
2015 151,612 Patents -0.4%
2016 155,533 Patents +2.6%
2017 161,258 Patents +3.7%
2018 164,862 Patents +2.2%
2019 169,434 Patents +2.8%
2020 173,227 Patents +2.2%
2021 173,826 Patents +0.3%
2022 172,790 Patents -0.6%
2023 140,083 Patents -18.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 8,148 Patents 3,904 Patents 12,393 Patents 2
1980s 37,995 Patents 19,724 Patents 57,726 Patents 10
1990s 71,486 Patents 59,277 Patents 99,622 Patents 10
2000s 126,989 Patents 110,734 Patents 139,031 Patents 10
2010s 152,351 Patents 135,474 Patents 169,434 Patents 10
2020s 164,982 Patents 140,083 Patents 173,826 Patents 4

Countries ranked near World

  1. 1 OECD 121,552 Patents compare
  2. 2 Germany 18,453 Patents compare
  3. 3 Japan 15,250 Patents compare
  4. 4 China 13,210 Patents compare

See the full ranking of 104 places →

More science & technology data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications in World?
Patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications in World was 140,083 Patents in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 173,826 Patents in 2021.
What is the lowest patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 3,904 Patents in 1978.
How does World rank for patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications?
World ranks 1st out of 3 regions with data for 2023.
Is patents in oecd selected technologies — patent applications rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this World data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications in World. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/patents-in-oecd-selected-technologies-patent-applications/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Patents in OECD selected technologies — Patent applications
Unit
Patents
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
104 places, 4,784 data points, 1978–2023
Last refreshed

Patent counts by technology (including total patents, estimated total patents for latest years): EPO, USPTO, PCT and Patent Families indicators are presented for selected technology domains such as ICT, Artificial Intelligence, nanotechnology, biotechnology as well as environment-related and health-related technologies.