About 3.46 million patent applications were made worldwide in 2022, reflecting an increase for three consecutive years and reaching a new record high, according to a newly released World Intellectual Property Indicators Report published by the World Intellectual Property Organization on Monday.

According to the report, China, the U.S., Japan, South Korea and Germany had the largest number of patent applications last year.

China made about 1.58 million patent applications in 2022, accounting for nearly half the global amount.