Patents data at a glance

The Patents Dashboard provides important data on USPTO patent operations. Access refined pendency information, as well as other critical indicators such as the number of applications in the backlog, production, staffing and more. This tool provides the intellectual property community with a better understanding of USPTO’s processes and enables applicants to make more informed decisions about their applications.

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, email patentdata@uspto.gov.


Utility, Plant, and Reissue (UPR) unexamined patent application inventory

The unexamined patent application inventory is the number of new utility, plant, and reissue (UPR) patent applications in the pipeline at any given time that are awaiting initial written feedback from a patent examiner, known as a "First Office Action". Continuation, continuation-in-part, and divisional applications are included in the total.

View all inventory and filing data


Total patent application inventory

The total inventory is the total number of patent applications pending before the agency at any stage of prosecution, including both unexamined applications and applications that have received their office actions.

View all inventory and filing data


First Office Action pendency

First Office Action pendency is the average number of months from the patent application filing date to the USPTO's First Office Action mailing date. The term "pendency" means that the application is pending or awaiting a decision. The First Office Action pendency number displayed is the average number of months for all applications that have a First Office Action mailed over the past three-month (one quarter) period.

View all pendency data


Traditional total pendency

This is the measure of total pendency, as traditionally measured. Historically, pendency has been measured as the average number of months from the patent application filing date to the date the application has reached final disposition (e.g., issued as a patent or abandoned), which is called a “disposal”. This pendency includes the time periods awaiting action by the USPTO, as well as any time awaiting a reply from an applicant.

The Traditional Total Pendency number displayed is the average number of months for all applications--excluding applications in which a Request for Continued Examination (RCE) has been filed--which are “disposed” over the past three-month (one quarter) period.

View all pendency data


Traditional total pendency including Requests for Continued Examination (RCEs)

Total pendency including Request for Continued Examinations (RCEs) is the average number of months from the patent application filing date to the ultimate disposal of the application, irrespective of any intermediate abandonments due to the filing of an RCE.

View all pendency data


Additional patent dashboards


Patent data overview

View current and historical patent trend data for examiner staffing, examination efforts, inventory, and pendency

 Download the Patent Data Overview as a PDF


Technology Center level data

In response to stakeholder feedback, the USPTO is providing detailed data at the Technology Center level, including filings, pendency, staffing, productivity, and inventory levels. To access the data, please click on the below link.

 Download the Technology Center Data as an XLSX spreadsheet

 Download the XLSX spreadsheet viewable in Microsoft Excel, Google Docs, and other spreadsheet software