Key numbers for 2025
10,344 (+9.4%) International applications
10,044 (+13.5%) International registrations
45,698 (+6.2%) Designations in international applications
43,642 (+11.7%) Designations in international registrations
6,740 (+13.3%) Renewals of international registrations
67,878 (+8.9%) International registrations in force
28,588 (+5.2%) Designs contained in international applications
28,551 (+10.8%) Designs contained in international registrations
115,446 (–2.8%) Designs contained in designations in international applications
113,295 (+9.1%) Designs contained in designations in international registrations
23,641 (+2.8%) Designs contained in renewals of international registrations
242,209 (+6.2%) Designs contained in international registrations in force
Statistics on Hague international applications
Filings for the international protection of industrial designs via the Hague System increased by 9.4%; designs contained in applications grew by 5.2% to reach 28,588 designs – a record number
In 2025, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) received 10,344 international applications for design protection under the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, a 9.4% increase over the previous year (see figure 1). Applications contained a record 28,588 designs, representing a 5.2% growth and marking the System’s fifth consecutive year of expansion (see figure 2). The strong 5.2% growth rate in 2025 is largely attributable to China and the United States of America (US).
Applicants from at least 73 countries or territories filed one or more Hague application
The accession of Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in 2025 has increased the number of Hague members to 82. Applicants can now obtain design protection within the territories of 99 countries. Note that there are fewer Hague members than there are countries covered by the System. This is due to the Hague membership of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the European Union (EU). By choosing to designate these intergovernmental organizations in an application, applicants are able to gain protection for their designs across all the respective member states. In 2025, over 3,700 applicants from at least 73 countries filed international applications.
China was the top Hague System user in 2025, with 5,911 designs
China led design filings in 2025, with 5,911 designs, followed by Germany (4,530), the US (3,882), Switzerland (2,285) and Italy (2,015) (see figure 3). Four of these top five origins recorded growth. Filings from the US increased by 27.5%, and those from China rose by 21.4%, while Italy experienced a decline of 10.4%.
In 2025, applicants based in Europe accounted for more than half (53.9%) of all designs filed worldwide (see figure 4). This is largely attributable to the majority of Hague System members being European countries. However, the proportion of designs originating from Asia has increased significantly over the past 10 years, rising from 12.6% in 2015 to 30.8% in 2025. This growth is primarily due to the accession of China (2022), Japan (2015) and the Republic of Korea (2014) to the Hague System. Similarly, the accession of Canada (2018) and the US (2015) has led to a substantial increase in Northern America’s share, from 6.7% in 2015 to 14.7% in 2025. In contrast, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Oceania collectively had just 0.6% of the total share in 2025. This low share reflects the limited number of Hague Agreement parties within these three regions.
China’s Huawei Technologies overtook Procter & Gamble of the US to become top Hague filer in 2025
China’s Huawei Technologies became the leading filer, in 2025, with a record 1,200 designs included in published registrations (see table 5). Last year’s top filer, Procter & Gamble of the US, dropped to third place, with 613 designs, which is 28 fewer than the previous year. Other top filers include Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software of China, with 659 designs, Philips Electronics of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with 540 designs, and Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea, with 525 designs. Six of the top 10 applicants operate within the ICT and consumer electronics sector, while two companies are active within the automotive sector, one company is active in consumer goods, and one in construction.
In 2025, six of the top 10 applicants saw a substantial increase in the number of designs within published registrations compared to 2024. Huawei Technologies (769 additional designs), Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software (429), Apple Inc. (323) of the US and Philips Electronics (312) experienced the fastest growth.
The European Union received 20,812 design designations in 2025, making it the most designated Hague member in international applications
The Hague System is a mechanism simplifying the process of registering designs in multiple jurisdictions by creating a single international procedure. Applicants can select the Hague members in whose jurisdictions they wish to protect their designs, which are referred to as designated members. In 2025, applicants could seek protection for up to 100 designs in a single international application covering up to 99 countries.
The European Union (EU) remains the most designated Hague member in international applications, with 7,182 designations containing 20,812 designs (see figure 6). The EU has held top position since 2010. Following the EU, the United Kingdom (UK) was the second most designated member, with 15,881 designs, followed by the US (9,098), Switzerland (8,067) and China (6,841). Three of the top 10 most designated members saw a double-digit growth in designs contained in designations, with the Republic of Korea reporting the fastest increase at 17.3%. China (+11.9%) and Canada (+11.6%) are the other two countries with double-digit growth. In contrast, Türkiye (–10.5%) and Norway (–10%) were the two designated Hague members to record double-digit declines in the number of designs contained in designations in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Designs relating to recording and communication equipment accounted for 13.2% of all designs in 2025
In 2025, the biggest share of total designs was in recording and communication equipment (Class 14), accounting for 13.2% of all designs. Means of transport (Class 12) at 8% occupied second spot, followed by packages and containers (Class 9) at 7.9%, furnishings (Class 6) at 6.7% and machines (Class 15) at 5.6%. The top 10 most specified Locarno classes together accounted for 63.9% of all designs in 2025, whereas the 10 least specified classes accounted for only 3.6% (see table 7). Among the top five classes, there was a significant growth in the number of designs relating to machines (+25%), and recording and communication equipment (+13.2%).
Statistics on Hague international registrations
Around 28,600 designs were registered through the Hague System in 2025
The International Bureau (IB) reported 10,044 international registrations in 2025, representing a 13.5% increase over 2024 and marking a fourth consecutive year of growth. Additionally, the number of designs included in registrations totaled 28,551, representing a double-digit (+10.8%) increase on the previous year (see table 8). The long-term trend indicates an upward trajectory, with the number of designs registered via the Hague System having almost doubled over the past decade – from 14,483 in 2015 to 28,551 in 2025.
In 2025, China had the largest proportion of all design registrations at 20.0%. China was followed by Germany (16.1%), the US (13.2%), Switzerland (8.4%) and Italy (8.0%) (see table 8). Each of the top five origins recorded double-digit growth in 2025. The US led with a 34.6% increase, followed by China (+27.5%), Switzerland (+22.9%), Germany (+13.4%) and Italy (+10.3%). With growth more that twice that of Italy, Switzerland moved up one position to fourth place, while Italy slipped to fifth.
Around 67,900 international registrations, containing around 242,200 designs, were in force in 2025
Active registrations increased by 8.9% to reach 67,878 in 2025. Registrations in force consisted of approximately 242,200 designs. However, the majority of designs and registrations were concentrated in a small number of countries of origin. In 2025, China, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the US collectively held approximately 68.1% of all active designs (see figure 9), slightly below their combined share of 68.6% in 2020.
Statistics on fees
In 2025, the IB distributed CHF 17.8 million to 80 designated members – up 17.9% on the previous year
In 2025, designated offices received approximately 17.8 million Swiss francs (CHF) from the International Bureau (IB), compared with CHF 15.1 million the previous year. The US received the largest share of the total at 24.4%, followed by Japan (18.4%), Canada (13.5%), the EU (11.3%) and the Republic of Korea (8.3%) (see table 10). Four of the top five recipients – Japan being the exception – increased their share of the total amount distributed by the IB in 2025 compared with the previous year. The EU’s share rose by 0.8 percentage points – fastest among these five recipients. In contrast, Japan’s share declined by 0.9 percentage points over the same period. Beyond the top five recipients, China’s share declined by 0.8 percentage points, causing it to fall one position to become the sixth largest recipient in 2025. In contrast, Mexico’s share increased by 0.7 percentage points, lifting it three places to rank as the seventh largest recipient in 2025.
Applicants paid an average of just under CHF 2,100 per international registration through the Hague System in 2025
In 2025, the average fee for a Hague international registration was CHF 2,098, which was CHF 30 more than the previous year (see figure 11). Over the past three years, the average registration fee has remained relatively stable, ranging from CHF 2,068 in 2024 to CHF 2,098 in 2025. In 2025, the fee per registration ranged between CHF 456 for six single-design registrations to CHF 46,359 for a single registration originating from the US that contained 70 designs and designated eight Hague members. Around two-thirds of registrations cost less than the CHF 2,098 average fee, while only 3.5% of registrations cost more than CHF 5,000 per registration.
Statistics on decisions
Decisions conveyed by designated offices to the IB have increased significantly since 2014
Between 2014 and 2024, the number of decisions communicated to the IB by designated offices regarding international registrations far outpaced the number of registrations. In 2014, designated offices communicated 3,456 decisions to the IB, whereas in 2024, they communicated 29,608 decisions. However, the total number of decisions in 2024 was 19.5% below the peak of 2023, when 36,779 decisions were communicated. Over the same period, the number of registrations increased from 2,648 to 6,592. Consequently, the ratio of decisions per registration increased from 1.3 in 2014 to 4.5 in 2024 (see figure 12). In 2024, the EU communicated the largest share of decisions to the IB, accounting for 20.7% of the total, closely followed by the UK (20.2%) and the US (19.9%) (see figure 13). The combined share of these top three offices in 2024 was 60.8%.
In 2024, around 86% of all decisions were transmitted to the IB within 12 months
The proportion of decisions transmitted to the IB exceeding the 12-month time limit gradually increased from approximately 1.6% in 2011 to approximately 26.0% in 2020. The proportion has since declined, falling to 14.1% by 2024. In 2024, around 86% of all decisions were transmitted to the IB within 12 months, and another 12.5% within 18 months (see figure 14). Only 1.5% of all decisions took more than 18 months from the publication date to be conveyed to the IB. Timelines for decisions vary significantly across designated offices, depending on the type of decision.
