Patent applications by nonresidents — all countries

Patent applications by nonresidents — North America

Patent applications by nonresidents in North America in 2020 — 357,699 filings. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 450.9%.

2020 357,699 filings −2.95% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 368,590 filings2019
Period minimum 64,930 filings1980

Trend over time

1980–2020 · applications

Patent applications by nonresidents — North America, 1980–20200100,000200,000300,000400,000198019841988199219962000200420082012201620201980: 64,930 filings1981: 67,276 filings1982: 70,192 filings1983: 68,002 filings1984: 74,152 filings1985: 77,044 filings1986: 81,317 filings1987: 90,120 filings1988: 97,513 filings1989: 108,397 filings1990: 104,895 filings1991: 105,257 filings1992: 113,872 filings1993: 107,548 filings1994: 120,205 filings1995: 128,341 filings1996: 130,041 filings1997: 126,520 filings1998: 132,409 filings1999: 149,701 filings2000: 166,535 filings2001: 184,711 filings2002: 185,982 filings2003: 186,799 filings2004: 200,377 filings2005: 217,571 filings2006: 240,698 filings2007: 249,940 filings2008: 261,761 filings2009: 263,604 filings2010: 279,148 filings2011: 286,189 filings2012: 304,566 filings2013: 313,955 filings2014: 324,989 filings2015: 333,762 filings2016: 340,911 filings2017: 344,021 filings2018: 343,858 filings2019: 368,590 filings2020: 357,699 filings
Change over the period: +292,769 (+450.9%) Average annual rate: 4.36 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: North America

North America 357,699 filings
World 970,400 filings
Patent applications by nonresidents — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year filings Change Change, %
2020 357,699 −10,891 −2.95%
2019 368,590 +24,732 +7.19%
2018 343,858 −163 −0.05%
2017 344,021 +3,110 +0.91%
2016 340,911 +7,149 +2.14%
2015 333,762 +8,773 +2.7%
2014 324,989 +11,034 +3.51%
2013 313,955 +9,389 +3.08%
2012 304,566 +18,377 +6.42%
2011 286,189 +7,041 +2.52%
2010 279,148 +15,544 +5.9%
2009 263,604 +1,843 +0.7%
2008 261,761 +11,821 +4.73%
2007 249,940 +9,242 +3.84%
2006 240,698 +23,127 +10.63%
2005 217,571 +17,194 +8.58%
2004 200,377 +13,578 +7.27%
2003 186,799 +817 +0.44%
2002 185,982 +1,271 +0.69%
2001 184,711 +18,176 +10.91%
2000 166,535 +16,834 +11.25%
1999 149,701 +17,292 +13.06%
1998 132,409 +5,889 +4.65%
1997 126,520 −3,521 −2.71%
1996 130,041 +1,700 +1.32%
1995 128,341 +8,136 +6.77%
1994 120,205 +12,657 +11.77%
1993 107,548 −6,324 −5.55%
1992 113,872 +8,615 +8.18%
1991 105,257 +362 +0.35%
1990 104,895 −3,502 −3.23%
1989 108,397 +10,884 +11.16%
1988 97,513 +7,393 +8.2%
1987 90,120 +8,803 +10.83%
1986 81,317 +4,273 +5.55%
1985 77,044 +2,892 +3.9%
1984 74,152 +6,150 +9.04%
1983 68,002 −2,190 −3.12%
1982 70,192 +2,916 +4.33%
1981 67,276 +2,346 +3.61%
1980 64,930

About the indicator

The number of patent applications filed in a country by nonresident applicants. The indicator measures not the inventive activity of the country but the value of its market: a patent has force only where it is granted, so foreign companies file where they intend to sell or where they fear copying. The ratio to applications by residents splits countries into those that invent and those where others file.

Important: A measure of the appeal of a market, not of innovativeness. An application is not a patent: some applications are rejected, and the share of rejections differs across countries.

Source: IP Statistics (WIPO), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.