Statistics and trends
Statistics & Trends Centre
Use our new statistics and trends centre for interactive charts and graphs or access reports and downloads below.
Patent Index 2022
Patent Index 2022 provides a comprehensive overview of the figures representing recent activity in the global patent system. It also offers insights into emerging technology trends.
Chief Economist’s studies
Read the latest studies explaining the impact of current technology trends and the links between patents and economic activity.
Patent Index (previous)
Our annual statistical summaries from previous years.
Patent Index 2021Patent Index 2020Patent Index 20192022 in summary
View the headline figures of 2022:
Key figures videoKey figures infographicPatent statistics 2022 at a glancePatent insight reports
These landscaping reports focus on emerging technologies where we see rapid growth in patenting. Although they might not yet have a high number of patent applications, these potentially disruptive technologies deserve attention and analysis.
Patent insight reportsEPO Data Hub
A free mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. EPO Data Hub complements the Patent Index, allowing users to explore patenting trends. An update for 2021 data is now available.
Get the appClarification on data sources
What data are included in the Patent Index and other statistical presentations? How, when and why are they revised? How are applicants consolidated for our rankings? We briefly explain.
Our methodologyDownload data
- European patent applications filed with the EPO
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- Granted patents
- Top applicants
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Data Format File size Patent Index 2022 - Top applicants XLS 30 KB Top 100 applicants 2022 XLS 22 KB Top 25 applicants per leading field of technology in 2022 XLS 27 KB Please note that the consolidation process used may lead to some discrepancies with the lists in previous years.
- Top 10 countries
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Data Format File size Applications 2022 XLS 19 KB Granted patents 2022 XLS 18 KB Top technical fields 2022 XLS 23 KB - Key data for selected countries
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The files below provide an overview of key data on selected countries.
Data Format File size Austria 2022 XLS 36 KB Belgium 2022 XLS 37 KB Denmark 2022 XLS 35 KB Finland 2022 XLS 35 KB France 2022 XLS 37 KB Germany 2022 XLS 39 KB Ireland 2022 XLS 36 KB Italy 2022 XLS 37 KB Japan 2022 XLS 40 KB Netherlands 2022 XLS 37 KB Norway 2022 XLS 36 KB People's Republic of China 2022 XLS 35 KB Poland 2022 XLS 37 KB Portugal 2022 XLS 36 KB Republic of Korea 2022 XLS 33 KB Spain 2022 XLS 37 KB Sweden 2022 XLS 37 KB Switzerland 2022 XLS 39 KB United Kingdom 2022 XLS 37 KB United States 2022 XLS 41 KB - Statistics on the activity at member state offices
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Data Format File size National applications in EPC member state offices 2021 XLS 17 KB Granted patents by offices of the EPC member states 2021 XLS 16 KB Validations of granted European patents in EPC member states 2021 XLS 16 KB - IP5 statistics
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The IP5 is the forum of the five largest intellectual property offices in the world (CNIPO, EPO, JPO, KIPO, USPTO). In 2021, 2.9 million patent applications were filed at the IP5 Offices and together they granted 1.5 million patents (up from 2.8 million and 1.3 million respectively in 2020).
- Statistics reported to the Administrative Council (CA/F 5)
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Document CA/F 5 is published annually for the Administrative Council around mid-November. It summarises the statistics of the previous calendar year with respect to applications, grants, national validations and maintenance of European patents, as well as statistics on opposition procedures. Statistics for appeals can be found in the Annual Reports of the Boards of Appeal.
Data Format File size Statistics 2021 PDF 1.1 MB Statistics 2020 PDF 6.3 MB Statistics 2019 PDF 5 MB Statistics 2018 PDF 1.1 MB Statistics 2017 PDF 1.6 MB Statistics 2016 PDF 1.8 MB