A detailed analysis of scientific progress, the benefits brought by technology, and the scientific trends of the 21st century has led the financial website Insider Monkey to rank the 12 most advanced countries in science.
The Most Advanced Countries in Science
Insider Monkey ranked the countries based on their h-index scores for scientific papers in 2021. The h-index measures the cumulative impact of academic output.
The data was sourced from the SCImago Country Rankings and the World Bank.
Stanford University is one of the leading scientific research institutions in the United States – (Photo: STANFORD UNIVERSITY).
1. United States
Number of Scientific Papers: 726,552.
Total h-index Score: 2,711
The United States currently holds the number one position, far surpassing other countries in science with a significant margin.
Leading research institutions include Harvard University, Stanford University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Top US corporations involved in R&D include Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta.
2. United Kingdom
Number of Scientific Papers: 243,792.
Total h-index Score: 1,707
The most prestigious research institutions in the UK are the University of Oxford, University College London, and the University of Cambridge.
3. Germany
Number of Scientific Papers: 208,210
Total h-index Score: 1,498
Germany is known for having 28 Nobel Prize winners in Physics.
Leading research organizations include the Helmholtz Association, the Max Planck Institute, and the Leibniz Association.
4. Canada
Number of Scientific Papers: 130,786
Total h-index Score: 1,381
Canada places a strong emphasis on agricultural, health, and environmental sciences, supported by a world-class education system producing some of the best researchers globally.
The top three institutions are the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
5. France
Number of Scientific Papers: 128,210
Total h-index Score: 1,352
France’s contributions to global scientific efforts are significant in the fields of physics, medicine, and chemistry.
Some leading institutions include the French National Centre for Scientific Research, the National Institute for Health and Medical Research, and Sorbonne University.
6. Netherlands
Number of Scientific Papers: 74,317
Total h-index Score: 1,206
The top three research institutions are Utrecht University, the University of Amsterdam, and the Hubrecht Institute, recognized globally for academic prestige.
The Netherlands is also considered one of the most advanced countries in agricultural science.
7. Australia
Number of Scientific Papers: 125,211
Total h-index Score: 1,193
The top research organizations in the country are the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, and the University of Queensland.
The University of Melbourne has produced 8 Nobel laureates in scientific research.
Australia hosts many corporations involved in R&D activities.
8. Italy
Number of Scientific Papers: 154,304
Total h-index Score: 1,189
The top research institutions in Italy include the National Research Council, Sapienza University of Rome, and the University of Milan.
9. Japan
Number of Scientific Papers: 144,778
Total h-index Score: 1,171
Japan’s contributions to electronic engineering rank third globally, accounting for 8% of global output.
Leading research/academic institutions in Japan include the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and Osaka University.
10. Switzerland
Number of Scientific Papers: 57,331
Total h-index Score: 1,142
Switzerland produces 4.3 scientific papers per 1,000 citizens, with an average citation of 1.60 per paper.
The top two research institutions are the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the University of Zurich.
11. China
Number of Scientific Papers: 860,012
Total h-index Score: 1,112
China is the second-largest economy in the world, with a GDP of $18 trillion as of 2021.
The top research institutions in China are the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, and Tsinghua University.
12. Spain
Number of Scientific Papers: 122,688
Total h-index Score: 1,073
The top scientific research institutions in Spain include the Spanish National Research Council, the Carlos III Health Institute, and the University of Barcelona.
