Iran’s presence in world’s top 2% of scientists nearly doubles
The number of Iranian researchers ranked among the world's top 2% of scientists has almost doubled, increasing from 1,154 in 2020 to 2,678 in 2026, according to Scopus data.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
Iran has seen a significant surge in its scientific standing, with a steady upward trend in the number of its researchers recognized globally. This growth is supported by comprehensive bibliometric data and highlights Iran's leadership in key scientific fields among Islamic nations.
Imagine a worldwide club for the smartest scientists, like a special team of brainy explorers. Iran now has almost twice as many people in this super-smart club as it did a few years ago! This means more Iranian scientists are doing amazing work that helps us understand the world better, like discovering new things in space or how our brains work.
Analysis
2,678
The reported increase to 2,678 Iranian researchers among the world's top 2% of scientists signifies a substantial leap in the nation's scientific standing. This figure, nearly double the 1,154 recorded in 2020, reflects a consistent upward trajectory over recent years, indicating sustained investment and productivity in the scientific community. The steady growth, from 1,701 in 2021 to 2,678 in 2026, suggests a robust and expanding research ecosystem within Iran.
This impressive growth is not concentrated in a single institution but is distributed across 30 universities and scientific centers, with the University of Tehran leading the charge with 123 researchers. Other prominent institutions like Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences also contribute significantly, highlighting a broad-based improvement in research capabilities across various academic disciplines. This widespread participation underscores a national commitment to fostering scientific excellence.
Beyond the single-year impact, the career-long index for highly cited Iranian researchers has also seen remarkable growth, tripling from 433 in 2020 to 1,380 in 2026. This indicates that a growing number of Iranian scientists are not only publishing impactful research in the short term but are also building sustained careers characterized by significant and lasting contributions to their fields. The fact that 57.5% of these career-long impact researchers also hail from the top 30 centers further solidifies the institutional strength supporting this scientific advancement.
Scopus data
The foundation for these rankings lies in the comprehensive Scopus data provided by Elsevier, which is utilized by Stanford University's "World's Top 2%" scientists list. This prestigious list employs a rigorous methodology, identifying leading researchers based on a 2 percent or above percentile rank or by their c-score, which is a composite indicator derived from six key citation metrics. These metrics include total citations, h-index, and citations to single, first, or last-author papers, ensuring a holistic evaluation of a scientist's influence.
The c-score methodology is crucial as it combines both the quantity and quality of research contributions, offering a nuanced perspective on a researcher's impact. By standardizing data on citations, h-index, and a wide array of bibliometric indicators, the ranking provides a robust measure of scientific influence across 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields. This detailed classification allows for a precise assessment of expertise and contribution in highly specialized areas.
The list further distinguishes between two critical perspectives on research impact: career-long and single-year. The career-long impact ranking assesses a researcher's cumulative citation performance throughout their entire professional life, reflecting enduring influence. In contrast, the single-year impact ranking focuses on the most recent year's research output, capturing current productivity and relevance. This dual approach provides a comprehensive view of both established and emerging scientific leaders.
Cognitive sciences
Iran's scientific prowess extends to specific fields, notably ranking first among Islamic countries in cognitive sciences, according to the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC) and Web of Science data. Over a five-year period from 2021 to 2025, Iran led with 32 documents, surpassing Turkey and Saudi Arabia. This leadership position highlights a strategic focus and significant output in a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary domain.
Within cognitive sciences, Iran has demonstrated particular strength in sub-fields such as cognitive neuroscience, cognitive rehabilitation, and cognitive linguistics, where it ranked first among Islamic countries from 2014 to 2023. Its global ranking of 15th in cognitive neuroscience further underscores the international recognition of its research in this area. Institutions like Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the University of Tehran are key contributors to this success.
Beyond cognitive sciences, Iran also holds top positions among Islamic nations in other critical scientific output areas, including quantum science, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and advanced materials. While facing close competition from Turkey and Saudi Arabia in some of these fields, Iran's overall leadership in these strategic domains aligns with national development plans emphasizing scientific advancement. This broad excellence across multiple high-tech fields positions Iran as a significant scientific player in the Islamic world.
Key points
- The number of Iranian researchers in the world's top 2% of scientists nearly doubled from 1,154 in 2020 to 2,678 in 2026.
- The University of Tehran leads with 123 researchers, followed by other major universities and scientific centers.
- The number of highly cited Iranian researchers in the career-long index tripled from 433 in 2020 to 1,380 in 2026.
- Iran ranks first among Islamic countries in scientific output in fields like quantum science, cognitive sciences, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and advanced materials.
- The rankings are based on Scopus data provided by Elsevier, using a composite indicator (c-score) that evaluates citation metrics.
The significant increase in top-tier scientists and leadership in key fields among Islamic nations positions Iran for enhanced global scientific collaboration and innovation. This growth could attract further investment in research and development, fostering a more advanced knowledge-based economy and improving national capabilities in strategic technologies.
