Belgium's Top 2% Scientists 2021

Belgium has 1,780 scientists on the 2021 single-year Top 2% list, up 18.4% from 1,503 in 2020. That places Belgium 17th in the world by number of listed scientists. KU Leuven has the most listed scientists (342), followed by Universiteit Gent (338).

Single Year

1,780

+277 (+18.4%) vs 2020

Career Data

1,666

+253 (+17.9%) vs 2020

World rank by count

#17

No change vs 2020

Institutes

163

+32 (+24.4%) vs 2020

Scientists in Belgium on the list, by year

The single-year count has grown 18% since 2020.

Single-year list, change on the previous year

2021+18.4%

2022+5.2%

2023+3.4%

2024+3.7%

2025+5.8%

Show the numbers

Year	Single Year	Change	Career Data	Change
2020	1,503		1,413
2021	1,780	+18.4%	1,666	+17.9%
2022	1,872	+5.2%	1,769	+6.2%
2023	1,935	+3.4%	1,861	+5.2%
2024	2,007	+3.7%	1,997	+7.3%
2025	2,124	+5.8%	2,188	+9.6%

Top 10 institutes in Belgium

By number of listed scientists

Single-year list2021

Show the list

1KU Leuven342
2Universiteit Gent338
3Catholic University of Louvain128
4KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven103
5Universiteit Antwerpen103
6Université Libre de Bruxelles83
7Université de Liège77
8Vrije Universiteit Brussel72
9University Hospital of Ghent47
10Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc29

All 1,780 scientists

Single-year list2021

The first 100 are free to browse.

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Rank in Belgium	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	135	VJ Vincent, Jean Louis	Hospital Erasme	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 1
2	142	CP Carmeliet, Peter	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 6
3	221	Cani, Patrice D.	Catholic University of Louvain	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 3
4	396	DC De Clercq, Erik	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1
5	430	BK Binnemans, Koen	KU Leuven	Organic Chemistry	Rank 3
6	806	RP Rousseeuw, Peter J.	KU Leuven	Statistics & Probability	Rank 17
7	972	VW Verbeke, Wim	Universiteit Gent	Food Science	Rank 6
8	1,024	SA Scheen, André J.	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 21
9	1,128	RY Rosseel, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Social Sciences Methods	Rank 7
10	1,138	BB Blocken, B.	KU Leuven	Building & Construction	Rank 7
11	1,271	KJ Kruth, Jean Pierre	KU Leuven	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 8
12	1,408	HG Hofstede, Geert	European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management	Business & Management	Rank 33
13	1,916	MM McKee, Martin	European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies	Public Health	Rank 21
14	1,943	BM Brysbaert, Marc	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 33
15	2,222	PJ Poesen, Jean	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 8
16	2,293	RP Rutgeerts, Paul	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 29
17	2,510	LB Lambrecht, Bart N.	Universiteit Gent	Immunology	Rank 66
18	2,793	NY Nesterov, Yurii	Catholic University of Louvain	Operations Research	Rank 11
19	2,854	RJ Reginster, Jean Yves	Université de Liège	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 57
20	3,150	FR Fagard, Robert	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 95
21	3,223	NS Nolan, Steven P.	Universiteit Gent	Organic Chemistry	Rank 46
22	3,568	GX Gonze, Xavier	Catholic University of Louvain	Applied Physics	Rank 89
23	3,742	VC Van Cutsem, Eric	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 120
24	3,809	LM Lamkanfi, Mohamed	Universiteit Gent	Immunology	Rank 100
25	3,860	VW Verstraete, Willy	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 73
26	3,935	VP Vandenabeele, Peter	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 91
27	3,954	BA Bogaerts, Annemie	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 94
28	4,142	TJ Tack, Jan	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 54
29	4,189	BR Bouillon, Roger	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 81
30	4,358	TP Tompa, Peter	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 99
31	4,503	DM Dorigo, Marco	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 135
32	4,533	MS Muyldermans, Serge	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 104
33	4,780	RM Roberfroid, M.	Catholic University of Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 164
34	4,818	VH Van Humbeeck, Jan	KU Leuven	Materials	Rank 79
35	4,890	LS Laureys, Steven	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 314
36	4,891	HR Hoogenboom, Richard	Universiteit Gent	Polymers	Rank 31
37	4,997	VD Van den Berghe, Greet	Departement Cellulaire en Moleculaire Geneeskunde	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 100
38	5,338	DH De Houwer, Jan	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 97
39	5,566	SL Simar, Léopold	Catholic University of Louvain	Econometrics	Rank 15
40	5,568	BC Blanpain, Cédric	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Developmental Biology	Rank 212
41	5,627	LP Lancellotti, Patrizio	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 184
42	5,682	DN Delzenne, Nathalie M.	Catholic University of Louvain	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 42
43	5,881	NB Nilius, Bernd	KU Leuven	Physiology	Rank 8
44	6,128	DV De Vuyst, Luc	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Microbiology	Rank 127
45	6,238	AM Aalbers, Manuel B.	KU Leuven	Urban & Regional Planning	Rank 15
46	6,617	VD Van de Peer, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Developmental Biology	Rank 248
47	6,627	MC Mathieu, Chantal	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 140
48	6,745	PM Piccart-Gebhart, Martine	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 250
49	6,831	DJ Donnez, Jacques	Catholic University of Louvain	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 21
50	7,774	DF Danhier, Fabienne	Catholic University of Louvain	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 39
51	7,826	GH Goossens, Herman	Universiteit Antwerpen	Microbiology	Rank 163
52	7,887	VA Verbeke, Alain	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Business & Management	Rank 184
53	7,931	Coenye, Tom	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 167
54	7,999	DB De Belie, Nele	Universiteit Gent	Building & Construction	Rank 40
55	8,162	NR Naeije, Robert	Free Universities of Brussels	Respiratory System	Rank 52
56	8,267	GW Glänzel, Wolfgang	KU Leuven	Science Studies	Rank 14
57	8,297	CG Centi, Gabriele	Università degli Studi di Messina	Physical Chemistry	Rank 43
58	8,455	DB De Backer, Daniel	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 28
59	8,501	BG Boeckxstaens, Guy	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 99
60	8,541	DS De Schutter, Geert	Universiteit Gent	Building & Construction	Rank 45
61	8,632	NT Notteboom, Theo	Universiteit Gent	Logistics & Transportation	Rank 19
62	8,734	SJ Staessen, Jan A.	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 282
63	8,782	MP Meyfroidt, Patrick	Catholic University of Louvain	Ecology	Rank 227
64	8,880	WJ Wang, J.	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 91
65	8,988	GG Govers, Gerard	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 38
66	8,989	MC Michiels, Carine	University of Namur	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 199
67	9,007	MA Maas, Andrew I.R.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 542
68	9,223	DY Dufrêne, Yves F.	Catholic University of Louvain	Microbiology	Rank 197
69	9,367	RK Rabaey, Korneel	Universiteit Gent	Environmental Sciences	Rank 100
70	9,824	AM Antrop, Marc	Universiteit Gent	Urban & Regional Planning	Rank 22
71	9,874	RJ Raes, Jeroen	Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology	Microbiology	Rank 212
72	9,932	BH Brüssow, Harald	Departement Biosystemen	Microbiology	Rank 215
73	10,055	GS Goriely, Stephane	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 123
74	10,182	KP Kuppens, Peter	KU Leuven	Social Psychology	Rank 200
75	10,316	DL De Lathauwer, Lieven	KU Leuven	Networking & Telecommunications	Rank 66
76	10,455	VM Vansteenkiste, Maarten	Universiteit Gent	Social Psychology	Rank 203
77	11,011	HH Heidbuchel, Hein	Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 362
78	11,231	TH Tabari, Hossein	KU Leuven	Environmental Engineering	Rank 59
79	11,466	MR Meeusen, Romain	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Sport Sciences	Rank 45
80	11,638	RF Raes, Filip	KU Leuven	Clinical Psychology	Rank 72
81	11,793	AP Agostinis, Patrizia	KU Leuven	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 288
82	11,825	BA Berger, André	Catholic University of Louvain	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 220
83	11,954	VD Van de Werf, Frans	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 394
84	12,043	VD Vancampfort, Davy	Departement Revalidatiewetenschappen	Psychiatry	Rank 279
85	12,287	MF Mcsherry, Frank	Materialize, Inc.	Information Systems	Rank 38
86	12,370	VR Vanholder, Raymond	University Hospital of Ghent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 77
87	12,447	TD Thal, Dietmar Rudolf	Departement Beeldvorming & Pathologie	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 751
88	12,487	ST Stützle, Thomas	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 335
89	12,490	CL Chibotaru, Liviu F.	KU Leuven	Applied Physics	Rank 259
90	12,620	PF Peeters, Francois M.	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 263
91	12,652	VY Vandenplas, Yvan	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 139
92	12,695	MJ Maertens, J.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Microbiology	Rank 277
93	12,751	HM Hooghe, Marc	KU Leuven	Political Science & Public Administration	Rank 71
94	12,900	FO Feron, Olivier	Catholic University of Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 476
95	13,746	BJ Balzarini, Jan	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 33
96	14,103	HJ Harvey, Jeremy N.	KU Leuven	Chemical Physics	Rank 276
97	14,162	DJ Dumonceau, Jean Marc	Charleroi University Hospitals	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 158
98	14,507	VJ Vandesompele, Jo	Universiteit Gent	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 533
99	14,689	CA Covaci, Adrian	Universiteit Antwerpen	Environmental Sciences	Rank 163
100	14,794	VJ Voigt, Jens Uwe	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 474
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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2021

South Korea2,715 scientistsin 2021

Sweden2,438 scientistsin 2021

Denmark1,795 scientistsin 2021

Iran1,701 scientistsin 2021

Israel1,514 scientistsin 2021

Taiwan1,358 scientistsin 2021

Explore other countries

Single-year list2021

Germany9,436 scientistsin 2021

France5,274 scientistsin 2021

Netherlands3,945 scientistsin 2021

Switzerland3,016 scientistsin 2021

Austria1,219 scientistsin 2021

Luxembourg58 scientistsin 2021

All countries on the world map

Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Belgium are in the 2021 Stanford Top 2% list?

1,780 scientists affiliated with Belgium are on the 2021 single-year list, and 1,666 are on the career-long list.

Which institute in Belgium has the most Top 2% scientists?

On the 2021 single-year list, KU Leuven has the most listed scientists from Belgium, with 342. It is followed by Universiteit Gent with 338.

How has the number of Top 2% scientists in Belgium changed since 2020?

On the single-year list, Belgium went from 1,503 scientists in 2020 to 1,780 in 2021, a change of +18.4%.

What is the difference between the single-year and career-long lists?

The single-year list ranks scientists on the citations their work received in one year. The career-long list ranks them on citations across their whole career. Both lists are published every year, and a scientist can be on one, both or neither.

What is the official source of this data?

The rankings come from the science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators published by Ioannidis et al. in the Elsevier Data Repository, updated every year. TOPSCINET, an independent platform, organises that data by country, year, institute and field, so you can compare and explore it.