Key Takeaways
- China leads the world with 5.7 million active patents, far ahead of any other country.
- The U.S. (3.5M) and Japan (2.1M) rank second and third, respectively.
- Together, the top three countries hold more patents than the rest of the world combined.
A handful of countries dominate global patent activity, with a steep drop-off after the top ranks. China alone accounts for a massive share, holding millions more active patents than any other country.