In this article, we take a look at the 5 most advanced countries in science. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of scientific progress, the consequent technological benefits and 21st century scientific trends, head to 12 Most Advanced Countries in Science.
5. France
Number of Papers in 2021: 128,210
Total h-Index Score: 1,352
The French contribution to global scientific effort is considerable. In 2021, 128,210 papers were published by the French citizens, with a mean of 1.30 citations per paper. The fields included Physics, Medicine, Chemistry and others.
The French publications have had a high impact, with an h-index score of 1,352. Some of the top institutes in the country include the French National Center for Scientific Research, National Institute of Health and Medical Research and Sorbonne University. France spent 2.35% of its GDP in scientific research in 2020.
4. Canada
Number of Papers in 2021: 130,786
Total h-Index Score: 1,381
Canada is fourth on the list of the most advanced nations in science. Canadians published over 130,000 scientific papers in 2021 in reputed journals like Nature, with an h-index score of 1,381.
Canada is highly focused on agricultural, medical and environmental sciences and has a world-class education system that produces some of the best researchers in the world.
Its top three institutes are University of Toronto, The University of British Columbia and McGill University. Canada allocated 1.70% of its GDP to scientific research and development in 2020.
3. Germany
Number of Papers in 2021: 208,210
Total h-Index Score: 1,498
Germany is third on the list of most advanced countries in science. It spent 3.14% of its GDP in 2020 in scientific research and development and its 6% share in the global KTI output in 2019 was one of the highest in the world. Germany is known for 28 Nobel laureates in Physics.
Its top research bodies include Helmholtz Association, Max Planck Institutes and Experts, and Leibniz Association.
2. United Kingdom
Number of Papers in 2021: 243,792
Total h-Index Score: 1,707
The United Kingdom comes in second on the list, with 243,792 papers published in 2021, with an average of 1.45 citations per paper and h-index score of 1,707.
The UK’s most prestigious research institutes are University of Oxford, University College London and University of Cambridge. The country is also known for DeepMind, Google’s AI subsidy that has taken the scientific community by storm.
1. United States
Number of Papers in 2021: 726,552
Total h-Index Score: 2,711
With a total of 726,552 scientific papers and a total h-index score of 2,711, the United States grabs the number 1 spot, outperforming other countries in science by a huge margin.
The US spent 3.45% of its 2020 GDP on science and technology. Its top research facilities are Harvard University, Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its top corporations engaged in R&D include Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Meta.
You can also take a peek at Countries by GDP: 30 Largest Economies in the World and 15 Most Advanced Countries in Education.
