China Leads for the Third Year Clarivate's List of Most Cited Researchers
For the third consecutive year, the Chinese Academy of Sciences tops the prestigious Highly Cited Researchers report compiled by Clarivate. This annual analysis highlights scientists whose works rank among the top 1% most cited worldwide in their respective disciplines over the past decade, a key indicator of academic influence. 🏆
The Method Clarivate Uses to Select Researchers
Clarivate compiles its annual list by examining publications indexed on its Web of Science platform. The main criterion requires that a researcher has multiple articles positioned in the top percentile by number of citations within their specific field of knowledge. This approach aims to recognize those who produce science that the international community consistently and sustainably uses as a reference.
Key Features of the Selection:- Publications from the last decade indexed in Web of Science are analyzed.
- Articles in the top 1% of citations by field and year are identified.
- Researchers must have several works that meet this high-impact criterion.
In contemporary science, true value is often measured by how many other researchers cite your work, ideally to build upon it and not just to point out errors.
The Global Landscape Shown in This Year's Report
The 2025 overall ranking reveals a landscape where researchers affiliated with institutions in mainland China represent the largest individual proportion by country. Behind them are scientists from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The list includes names from more than seventy countries and regions, underscoring the collaborative and distributed nature of high-impact science today.
Highlighted Geographic Distribution in the Ranking:- China: Leads the list with the highest number of highly cited researchers.
- United States: Ranks second in the number of standout scientists.
- United Kingdom and Germany: Follow in the ranking, showing a strong research tradition.
- More than 70 countries: Global presence evidences international scientific collaboration.
Reflection on Academic Success Metrics
This annual report highlights a fundamental metric of success in the academic world: relevance measured through citations. More than just publishing, the goal focuses on producing knowledge that other scientists use and reference. The continuous dominance of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in this ranking reflects not only a considerable volume of research but also its ability to generate studies that define and guide their fields on a global scale. 📈