The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest.

With innovation as a key driving force of economic growth worldwide, intellectual property (IP) rights are central to the modern economy. This is particularly true in the context of global challenges which include economic recessions, climate change, and public policy issues such as health and food security. In all of these cases, human creativity and inventiveness will be essential to finding solutions for a sustainable future, and IP rights seek to stimulate and reward that creativity.

IP statistics help us to better understand the role of the IP system in stimulating and diffusing innovation, promoting markets for new products, and rewarding creativity. They also contribute to discussions and to the formulation of effective IP policies for addressing a wide range of public policy concerns. The statistical indicators provided by WIPO allow users to analyze and monitor the latest trends in IP activity based on objective and detailed information.

Through its annual IP questionnaires, WIPO collects IP data from IP offices around the world. The data are collected at an aggregate level by various breakdowns (e.g. number of filings or grants by office and origin, etc.). The WIPO Statistics Database also contains data compiled by WIPO during the application process of international filings through the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the Madrid System (trademarks) and the Hague System (industrial designs).

All statistics published by WIPO, including reports, datasets and material for researchers, are available for download from WIPO’s website: www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/statistics/

Example of statistical publications

Patent Cooperation Treaty Yearly Review

The World Intellectual Property Indicators

Contact details:

World Intellectual Property Organization
34, chemin des Colombettes
CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

Switchboard:  +41 22 338 9111
Fax:  +41 22 733 5428
Website: www.wipo.int