Comparing like with like: China ranks first in SCI-indexed research articles since 2018

  • Junwen Zhu
  • , Weishu Liu*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

China’s rising in scientific research output is impressive. The academic community is curious about the time when the cross-over in the number of annual scientific publication production between China and the USA can happen. By using Web of Science Core Collection’s Science Citation Index Expanded database, this study finds that China still ranks the second in the production of SCI-indexed publications in 2019 but may leapfrog the USA to be the first in 2020 or 2021, if all document types are considered. Comparatively, China has already overtaken the USA and been the largest SCI-indexed original research article producer since 2018. However, China still lags behind the USA regarding the number of review paper production. In general, quantitative advantage does not equal quality or impact advantage. We think that the USA will continue to be the global scientific leader for a long time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1691-1700
Number of pages10
JournalScientometrics
Volume124
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2020

Keywords

  • China
  • Research evaluation
  • Science Citation Index
  • Scientific research
  • United States

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