Patents & Inventiveness

According to a short blurb in the Economist online, Japan is the highest per capita patenting patent granting society in the world. 

Comparing some of the countries versus populations:

China has a population of 1,321,851,888 (est. July, 2007)

Japan has a population of 127,433,494 (est. July, 2007)

Sweden has a population of  9,031,088 (est. July, 2007)

INVENTIVE Japan grants more patents than any other country.  In 2002-05, on average 1,213 were given out for every million people, according to data collected for 82 countries by the Economist Intelligence Unit. But this impressive number is partly explained by multiple counting: each part of a new product required a separate patent application. Elsewhere, the parts would all be submitted in one. Generally, small countries grant the most patents. Switzerland, Sweden and Finland benefit from clusters of world-class companies in high-tech sectors and a highly educated workforce. Israel can thank its well-educated immigrants. Crumbling Cuba grants more patents than fast-growing India or China, though both countries are better known for their ability to copy, rather than create, intellectual property.