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[Jonathan]

I came across some moderately-interesting patent stats in the latest yearly edition The Economist's 'Pocket World in Figures, 2011.'

total patents granted to residents, period 2005-2007 (rounded (thousands))
Japan             128
US                 81
S. Korea          78
Taiwan           36
China              25
Russia             19
Germany         13
France            10
Italy               5
UK                 3
Ukraine           2.5
Spain              2.2
 Netherlands   1.8
Canada           1.6
Kazakhstan     1.4
Sweden         1.252
Poland           1.25
 Australia         1.088
Finlland            1.009
Austria           961
India              954

[Jonathan]

no. patents in force per 100,000 people (2007) (Can't seem to wrap my head around on this one.. a lower number indicates a less potentially restrictive place to do business?)

Luxembourg       5605
Ireland              3233
Hong Kong        2856
Taiwan              1389
South Korea       1170
Sweden            1150
Singapore          970
Japan               879
Belgium            839
Fiinland             823
.
.
#14 Germany    599
#15 USA          593

Urelated, Israel spends the hightest percent of their GDP on R+D, USA is in the top 10, China is at 23.

The USA spent the most on R+D, in 2007 - $368.8 billion.. India spent more than Mexico but only $900million more. Mexico spent $3.9 billion.

[JimIvey]

Austria           0.961
India              0.954

Given that the numbers appear to be sorted with the exception of the bottom two, I assume that was what you meant.

no. patents in force per 100,000 people (2007) (Can't seem to wrap my head around on this one.. a lower number indicates a less potentially restrictive place to do business?)

I would look at the number in a couple of ways.  One is a ratio of perceived patent value to actual patent value, particularly if the patent value is based primarily on the retail market.  Another is an amount of expected infringing activity per capita, particularly in jurisdictions with large manufacturing sectors -- e.g., Taiwan, HK.  I'd guess that some countries are a combination of both: Japan, S.Korea, Singapore -- people don't realize how small some countries are and those have significant manufacturing as well.  Singapore is about the size of San Francisco.  Imagine getting a San Francisco patent.

And, I think you're seeing some outliers as small members of the EPO -- e.g., Luxembourg and Ireland.

Interesting numbers, though.

Thanks.

[Jonathan]

Yep, forgot the 0's and decimals on the last two.. maybe I'll get the rest of the countries typed in later on as well, just to be complete or I could do something outside..