Patent applications by residents — all countries

Patent applications by residents — North America

Patent applications by residents in North America in 2020 — 274,038 filings. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 329.9%.

2020 274,038 filings −5.29% vs 2019
World rank
Period maximum 299,405 filings2016
Period minimum 61,408 filings1983

Trend over time

1980–2020 · applications

Patent applications by residents — North America, 1980–20200100,000200,000300,000198019841988199219962000200420082012201620201980: 63,746 filings1981: 64,568 filings1982: 65,316 filings1983: 61,408 filings1984: 63,867 filings1985: 65,765 filings1986: 67,356 filings1987: 70,842 filings1988: 77,964 filings1989: 85,401 filings1990: 93,192 filings1991: 90,137 filings1992: 95,232 filings1993: 103,578 filings1994: 109,713 filings1995: 126,393 filings1996: 109,475 filings1997: 122,558 filings1998: 138,542 filings1999: 153,312 filings2000: 168,982 filings2001: 181,476 filings2002: 188,204 filings2003: 192,870 filings2004: 194,767 filings2005: 213,050 filings2006: 227,306 filings2007: 246,345 filings2008: 236,649 filings2009: 229,979 filings2010: 246,527 filings2011: 252,504 filings2012: 273,491 filings2013: 292,398 filings2014: 289,294 filings2015: 292,612 filings2016: 299,405 filings2017: 297,957 filings2018: 289,444 filings2019: 289,351 filings2020: 274,038 filings
Change over the period: +210,292 (+329.89%) Average annual rate: 3.71 %

Comparison, 2020

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

North America 274,038 filings
World 2.31M filings
Patent applications by residents — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year filings Change Change, %
2020 274,038 −15,313 −5.29%
2019 289,351 −93 −0.03%
2018 289,444 −8,513 −2.86%
2017 297,957 −1,448 −0.48%
2016 299,405 +6,793 +2.32%
2015 292,612 +3,318 +1.15%
2014 289,294 −3,104 −1.06%
2013 292,398 +18,907 +6.91%
2012 273,491 +20,987 +8.31%
2011 252,504 +5,977 +2.42%
2010 246,527 +16,548 +7.2%
2009 229,979 −6,670 −2.82%
2008 236,649 −9,696 −3.94%
2007 246,345 +19,039 +8.38%
2006 227,306 +14,256 +6.69%
2005 213,050 +18,283 +9.39%
2004 194,767 +1,897 +0.98%
2003 192,870 +4,666 +2.48%
2002 188,204 +6,728 +3.71%
2001 181,476 +12,494 +7.39%
2000 168,982 +15,670 +10.22%
1999 153,312 +14,770 +10.66%
1998 138,542 +15,984 +13.04%
1997 122,558 +13,083 +11.95%
1996 109,475 −16,918 −13.39%
1995 126,393 +16,680 +15.2%
1994 109,713 +6,135 +5.92%
1993 103,578 +8,346 +8.76%
1992 95,232 +5,095 +5.65%
1991 90,137 −3,055 −3.28%
1990 93,192 +7,791 +9.12%
1989 85,401 +7,437 +9.54%
1988 77,964 +7,122 +10.05%
1987 70,842 +3,486 +5.18%
1986 67,356 +1,591 +2.42%
1985 65,765 +1,898 +2.97%
1984 63,867 +2,459 +4%
1983 61,408 −3,908 −5.98%
1982 65,316 +748 +1.16%
1981 64,568 +822 +1.29%
1980 63,746

About the indicator

The number of applications for a patent filed by residents of a country with a national or regional patent office during the year. An application is not a patent: the share of titles actually granted differs across countries and offices. The indicator reflects inventive activity, but it is sensitive to national patenting practice, which in some countries is encouraged administratively.

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