Monaco has claimed the top spot globally for the number of registered patents (inventions) per capita, based on statistics from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). With over 307,000 patents per 100,000 people, the figure significantly outpaces other nations. The 2024 ranking, published by Visual Capitalist, considers active patents relative to population size.

Following Monaco, Luxembourg ranks second with 24,300 patents per 100,000 people, and Ireland is third with 3,752 patents. Switzerland (3,015 patents) and South Korea (2,536 patents) also show high performance. The top ten includes Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Japan, and Belgium, each with over 1,500 patents per 100,000 people.

Among the world's largest economies, after South Korea, Japan (1,691 patents), the United States (1,051 patents), and China (404 patents) follow. China remains the global leader in total patent numbers—approximately 5.6 million—but lags behind many European countries in per capita terms. The U.S. figure is lower than several European nations, as indicated by WIPO data.

Analysts note that such metrics may depend not only on innovation levels but also on where patents are registered, as companies often file them in different jurisdictions. This is particularly relevant for small countries like Monaco, where high patent concentrations could be influenced by tax or registration benefits.

In Uzbekistan, a law was adopted in August 2025 to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights. It simplifies the state registration process and toughens penalties for violating authors' personal non-property rights, aiming to foster innovation and economic development in the country.

Source: kun.uz