Ranking of the Best Scientists in the World in 2024 (3rd Edition)

by Imed Bouchrika, PhD

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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On August 7, 2024, Research.com released its third edition of the world's best scientists report. These distinguished scholars and their respective contributions have made a mark and vastly enhanced the literature in their respective fields. 

This year's report sees the 2023 leaders maintain their positions, with Walter C. Willett again being named as the world's top scientist and Harvard University as the largest source of the top 1,000 scientists on the list. The United States also remains the country with the most top scientists. 

Over 166,000 scientist profiles were analyzed, and various indicators and metrics were evaluated to determine each scientist's eligibility for inclusion.

Latest Discoveries 

The years 2023 and 2024 marked a period of extraordinary scientific progress. Astronomy experienced a revolutionary leap with the James Webb Space Telescope’s unprecedented images of the early universe. These visuals challenged long-held theories about galaxy formation and black hole growth, offering a fresh perspective on the cosmos’ origins.

Concurrently, the quantum realm witnessed remarkable advancements. Researchers engineered novel error-correction codes for quantum computers, a crucial step towards reliable quantum computing. The successful teleportation of energy at the quantum level defied classical physics, opening up exciting possibilities for future technological breakthroughs. These discoveries collectively underscore the rapid pace of scientific exploration and their profound implications for the future.

The key findings from the world's best scientists ranking

• The best scientist in the world is Walter C. Willett from Harvard University with an h-index of 400.
• 9 of the 10 best scientists hail from the United States.
• Scientists working in the United States dominate the list with 606 included (60.6% of the entire ranking).
• Following the United States are the United Kingdom (100 scientists or 10%) and Germany (47 scientists or 4.7%).
• Harvard University is the school affiliated with the most top scientists with 64.
• The highest cited scientist is Eric S. Lander from the Broad Institute, United States with 697,064 citations.

• The average H-index for the top 1% of scientists is 322 against an average of 187 for the top 1000 scientists included in the ranking.

WORLD'S BEST SCIENTISTS RANKING

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Countries with the highest number of leading scientists

The United States is home to the most scientists in the top 1,000 ranking with 606, accounting for 60.6% of the entire list. Even though this year's number slightly dropped from last year's (612), the US continues to dominate with 9 of the top 10 scientists working in the country. 

The United Kingdom comes in second with 100, down from 101 last year, while Germany occupies the third spot with 47, down one last year. 

Rounding up the top 10 are Australia with 24 (same as last year), Canada with 23 (up from 20), the Netherlands with 23 (up from 17), Italy with 22 (down from 24), China with 22 (down from 24), France with 19 (same as last year), and Sweden with 18 (up from last year).

While Japan slid out of the top 10 this year, Sweden claimed the 10th slot.

Institutions with the highest number of leading scientists

Harvard University continues its dominance as the institution with the most affiliated top scientists with 64, down one from last year's 65. Climbing to the second spot (from fourth last year) is Stanford University with 21 scientists, one more than in 2023. MIT and the National Institutes of Health hold on to the third and fourth spots with 20 apiece.  

Entering the fifth and sixth spots are the University of California, San Diego with 18, and the University of Cambridge with 17. Occupying the sixth to 13th slots with 13 scientists each are Brigham and Women's Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, the University College London, the University of Oxford, California Institute of Technology, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Francisco.

American institutions constitute 80% of the top 20 institutions with 16, followed by the United Kingdom, which has four institutions. The number of UK-based institutions in the top 10 improved from two last year to three this year, with the University College London making it to the list. 

Online universities continue to evolve to cater to the modern learner

Academic researchers leverage online universities by accessing diverse data sets and collaborating flexibly with peers globally, enhancing the scope and efficiency of their studies. They also explore innovative pedagogical methods and utilize extensive digital resources to broaden the reach and impact of their research.

According to a recent study, 65% of researchers reported that online universities provided valuable data for their research, while 78% noted that digital collaboration tools significantly improved their productivity. Additionally, 82% of researchers found that access to extensive online resources and digital libraries greatly facilitated their research activities.

Meanwhile, the perception of online universities has undergone a positive transformation. Employers increasingly recognize the value of online degrees, considering them on par with traditional diplomas. This growing acceptance has fueled a surge in enrollment, with students drawn to the flexibility and accessibility offered by online programs. Moreover, the emergence of micro-credentials and shorter programs has catered to the needs of working professionals seeking to upskill without committing to lengthy degree paths.

H-index ranking-leaders, averages, and distribution

For North America, Professor Walter C. Willett from Harvard University is the leading scientist and has a world ranking of 1, making him the world's top scientist in 2024. His h-index is 400. 

Professor Guido Kroemer from Sorbonne University, France is ranked first in Europe with an h-index of 283. He is listed 15th in the world ranking. 

Asia is bannered by Japan's top scientist, Professor Shizuo Akira from Osaka University, who is ranked first in the region and has an h-index of 297. His world ranking is 10th. 

For Oceania, Nicholas G. Martin from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Australia is the top scientist in the region with an h-index of 213. He is also listed 124th in the world ranking. 

Professor Dan J. Stein from the University of Cape Town, South Africa is the top scientist in Africa with an h-index of 182 and a world ranking of 451.

For South America, Professor Maria-Teresa Dova from the National University of La Plata, Argentina ranks as the top scientist with an h-index of 172. She also has a world ranking of 650.

The average H-index for the top 1% of scientists is 322 against an average of 187 for the top 1,000 scientists included in the ranking.

The scholar with the lowest index value who made it to the ranking in 2024 has an H-index of 160, higher than last year's minimum of 155. 

The average number of published articles for the top 1% of scientists in the ranking is 1,930 against an average of 1,208 for the top 1,000 scholars.

The average number of citations for the top 1% of scientists is 457,751 against an average of 176,775 for the top 1,000 scholars. The highest cited scientist is Eric S. Lander from the Broad Institute, United States with 697,064 citations.

You can learn more about the methodology used to create this report here. 

About Research.com

All research was coordinated by Imed Bouchrika, Ph.D., a computer scientist with a well-established record of collaboration on a number of international research projects with different partners from the academic community. His role was to make sure all data remained unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date.

Research.com is the number one research portal for science and educational rankings. Our mission is to make it easier for professors, research fellows, and students to progress with their research and find the top experts in a wide range of scientific disciplines. Research.com is also a leading educational platform that helps students find the best colleges, academic opportunities, and career paths.