Patent applications by nonresidents — all countries

Patent applications by nonresidents — OECD

Patent applications by nonresidents in the OECD in 2021 — 578,733 filings. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 142.3%.

2021 578,733 filings +3.78% vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 578,733 filings2021
Period minimum 187,146 filings1982

Trend over time

1980–2021 · applications

Patent applications by nonresidents — OECD, 1980–20210200,000400,000600,0001980198519901995200020052010201520201980: 238,873 filings1981: 192,757 filings1982: 187,146 filings1983: 214,059 filings1984: 211,356 filings1985: 216,064 filings1986: 210,199 filings1987: 214,299 filings1988: 231,360 filings1989: 238,637 filings1990: 231,819 filings1991: 220,630 filings1992: 226,929 filings1993: 219,732 filings1994: 236,949 filings1995: 248,612 filings1996: 261,066 filings1997: 278,324 filings1998: 284,768 filings1999: 315,907 filings2000: 348,511 filings2001: 368,350 filings2002: 364,868 filings2003: 361,095 filings2004: 377,367 filings2005: 404,382 filings2006: 430,739 filings2007: 447,695 filings2008: 452,257 filings2009: 427,227 filings2010: 446,799 filings2011: 459,223 filings2012: 485,095 filings2013: 501,921 filings2014: 518,439 filings2015: 532,557 filings2016: 536,153 filings2017: 541,303 filings2018: 545,244 filings2019: 571,960 filings2020: 557,652 filings2021: 578,733 filings
Change over the period: +339,860 (+142.28%) Average annual rate: 2.18 %

Comparison, 2021

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

OECD 578,733 filings
World 1.02M filings
Patent applications by nonresidents — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year filings Change Change, %
2021 578,733 +21,081 +3.78%
2020 557,652 −14,308 −2.5%
2019 571,960 +26,716 +4.9%
2018 545,244 +3,941 +0.73%
2017 541,303 +5,150 +0.96%
2016 536,153 +3,596 +0.68%
2015 532,557 +14,118 +2.72%
2014 518,439 +16,518 +3.29%
2013 501,921 +16,826 +3.47%
2012 485,095 +25,872 +5.63%
2011 459,223 +12,424 +2.78%
2010 446,799 +19,572 +4.58%
2009 427,227 −25,030 −5.53%
2008 452,257 +4,562 +1.02%
2007 447,695 +16,956 +3.94%
2006 430,739 +26,357 +6.52%
2005 404,382 +27,015 +7.16%
2004 377,367 +16,272 +4.51%
2003 361,095 −3,773 −1.03%
2002 364,868 −3,482 −0.95%
2001 368,350 +19,839 +5.69%
2000 348,511 +32,604 +10.32%
1999 315,907 +31,139 +10.93%
1998 284,768 +6,444 +2.32%
1997 278,324 +17,258 +6.61%
1996 261,066 +12,454 +5.01%
1995 248,612 +11,663 +4.92%
1994 236,949 +17,217 +7.84%
1993 219,732 −7,197 −3.17%
1992 226,929 +6,299 +2.86%
1991 220,630 −11,189 −4.83%
1990 231,819 −6,818 −2.86%
1989 238,637 +7,277 +3.15%
1988 231,360 +17,061 +7.96%
1987 214,299 +4,100 +1.95%
1986 210,199 −5,865 −2.71%
1985 216,064 +4,708 +2.23%
1984 211,356 −2,703 −1.26%
1983 214,059 +26,913 +14.38%
1982 187,146 −5,611 −2.91%
1981 192,757 −46,116 −19.31%
1980 238,873

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.