Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in Japan
Japan: Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications was 15,250 Patents in 2023. ▲ Rising
Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in Japan, 1978–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Patents.
Analysis
Japan recorded 15,250 Patents for environment-related technologies patents — patent applications in 2023.
The figure is down 23.9% on the previous year and down 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, environment-related technologies patents — patent applications in Japan peaked at 23,483 Patents in 2005 and was at its lowest, 125.75 Patents, in 1978.
That places Japan 3rd out of 88 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in Japan, year by year
| Year | Patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 125.75 Patents | — |
| 1979 | 665.17 Patents | +429.0% |
| 1980 | 1,623 Patents | +144.0% |
| 1981 | 2,743 Patents | +69.0% |
| 1982 | 3,821 Patents | +39.3% |
| 1983 | 4,243 Patents | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 5,301 Patents | +24.9% |
| 1985 | 6,323 Patents | +19.3% |
| 1986 | 6,544 Patents | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 7,536 Patents | +15.2% |
| 1988 | 9,536 Patents | +26.5% |
| 1989 | 11,122 Patents | +16.6% |
| 1990 | 13,164 Patents | +18.4% |
| 1991 | 12,756 Patents | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 11,776 Patents | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 10,908 Patents | -7.4% |
| 1994 | 11,072 Patents | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 11,046 Patents | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 12,670 Patents | +14.7% |
| 1997 | 14,422 Patents | +13.8% |
| 1998 | 15,554 Patents | +7.8% |
| 1999 | 16,767 Patents | +7.8% |
| 2000 | 19,368 Patents | +15.5% |
| 2001 | 22,109 Patents | +14.2% |
| 2002 | 20,570 Patents | -7.0% |
| 2003 | 21,300 Patents | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 22,968 Patents | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 23,483 Patents | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 22,514 Patents | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 22,070 Patents | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 22,381 Patents | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 20,330 Patents | -9.2% |
| 2010 | 20,829 Patents | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 23,028 Patents | +10.6% |
| 2012 | 22,848 Patents | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 21,812 Patents | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 20,878 Patents | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 21,566 Patents | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 21,758 Patents | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 22,044 Patents | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 21,814 Patents | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 21,558 Patents | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 20,725 Patents | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 20,108 Patents | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 20,048 Patents | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 15,250 Patents | -23.9% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 15,250 Patents is above the median for high income countries, which is 134.16 Patents, 113.7× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Japan's 15,250 Patents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 79.5 Patents, 191.8× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +429.0% | 125.75 Patents | 665.17 Patents |
| 1980 | +144.0% | 665.17 Patents | 1,623 Patents |
| 1981 | +69.0% | 1,623 Patents | 2,743 Patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 395.46 Patents | 125.75 Patents | 665.17 Patents | 2 |
| 1980s | 5,879 Patents | 1,623 Patents | 11,122 Patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,013 Patents | 10,908 Patents | 16,767 Patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 21,709 Patents | 19,368 Patents | 23,483 Patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,813 Patents | 20,829 Patents | 23,028 Patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,033 Patents | 15,250 Patents | 20,725 Patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 1 United States 32,970 Patents compare
- 1 OECD 121,552 Patents compare
- 2 Germany 18,453 Patents compare
- 3 United Kingdom 4,653 Patents compare
- 4 China 13,210 Patents compare
- 4 Netherlands 4,269 Patents compare
- 5 Poland 508.37 Patents compare
- 5 France 7,903 Patents compare
- 6 Türkiye 390 Patents compare
- 6 Switzerland 5,882 Patents compare
More environment data for Japan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.8 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.358 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.86 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.4957 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is environment-related technologies patents — patent applications in Japan?
- Environment-related technologies patents — patent applications in Japan was 15,250 Patents in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest environment-related technologies patents — patent applications recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 23,483 Patents in 2005.
- What is the lowest environment-related technologies patents — patent applications recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 125.75 Patents in 1978.
- How does Japan rank for environment-related technologies patents — patent applications?
- Japan ranks 3rd out of 88 countries with data for 2023.
- Is environment-related technologies patents — patent applications rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Environment-related technologies patents — Patent applications. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
To identify patents in environment-related technologies (ENV-TECH), detailed search strategies have been developed drawing on more than 200,000 classification symbols. The search strategies encompass a broad spectrum of technologies related to environmental pollution, water scarcity, climate change mitigation.