The analysis of global ICT sector patents reveals that China holds the largest share, accounting for 36.97 thousand patents in 2024. The United States follows with 20.42 thousand patents, while Japan, with 12.5 thousand patents, ranks third. South Korea and Germany hold 7.78 thousand and 2.69 thousand patents, respectively. Countries like Canada, Netherlands, Taiwan, and Switzerland also contribute notably but with much lower figures.
Over the last two years, China saw a strong growth of 7.66%, while the United States experienced a 4.43% increase. Japan's growth remained modest at 0.65%. South Korea had a growth of 4.79% and Germany saw a decline of 2.39%. Denmark and New Zealand experienced significant increases at 12.79% and 26.91% respectively, whereas South Africa saw a considerable decline of 9.9%. Over the past five years, CAGR showed consistent growth trends primarily for China and emerging countries within Europe and Asia.
Future trends to watch for include the continued dominance of China and the U.S. in the ICT patent landscape, with specific attention to emerging players like New Zealand and Denmark. The decline in countries like Germany and South Africa might be concerning if sustained. Innovations in the ICT sector driven by 5G, AI, and IoT advancements will likely drive the number of patents in the coming years.
Top countries in Number of Patents in the ICT Sector by Country
| # | 10 Countries | Units | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 China | 36,970 | 2023 | +6.13% | +7.66% | View data |
| 2 | 2 United States | 20,420 | 2023 | +3.58% | +4.43% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Japan | 12,500 | 2023 | +1.68% | +0.65% | View data |
| 4 | 4 South Korea | 7,780 | 2023 | +3.93% | +4.79% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Germany | 2,690 | 2023 | -2.44% | -2.39% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Canada | 1,050 | 2023 | +1.91% | +4.15% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Netherlands | 555.96 | 2023 | +2.22% | +3.68% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Taiwan | 414.89 | 2023 | +9.55% | +3.31% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Switzerland | 354.41 | 2023 | +2.16% | +2.11% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Australia | 333.14 | 2023 | +5.88% | -0.28% | View data |
