Belgium's Top 2% Scientists 2021: Career-Long List

Belgium has 1,666 scientists on the 2021 career-long Top 2% list, up 17.9% from 1,413 in 2020. That places Belgium 18th in the world by number of listed scientists, down 1 place. KU Leuven has the most listed scientists (290), followed by Universiteit Gent (267).

Single Year

1,780

+277 (+18.4%) vs 2020

Career Data

1,666

+253 (+17.9%) vs 2020

World rank by count

#18

down 1 place vs 2020

Institutes

165

+27 (+19.6%) vs 2020

Scientists in Belgium on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 18% since 2020.

Career-long list, change on the previous year

2021+17.9%

2022+6.2%

2023+5.2%

2024+7.3%

2025+9.6%

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

Career-long list2021

Show the list

1KU Leuven290
2Universiteit Gent267
3Catholic University of Louvain141
4Université Libre de Bruxelles101
5Universiteit Antwerpen94
6Université de Liège90
7KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven86
8Vrije Universiteit Brussel64
9University Hospital of Ghent36
10Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc35

All 1,666 scientists

Career-long 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	68	CP Carmeliet, Peter	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 8
2	80	DC De Clercq, Erik	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1
3	108	VJ Vincent, Jean Louis	Hospital Erasme	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 1
4	563	RP Rutgeerts, Paul	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 7
5	1,079	NS Nolan, Steven P.	Universiteit Gent	Organic Chemistry	Rank 33
6	1,156	FR Fagard, Robert	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 66
7	1,369	BK Binnemans, Koen	KU Leuven	Organic Chemistry	Rank 40
8	1,555	SA Scheen, André J.	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 30
9	1,601	CD Collen, Desire	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 91
10	1,758	VD Van den Berghe, Greet	Departement Cellulaire en Moleculaire Geneeskunde	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 63
11	2,005	RJ Reginster, Jean Yves	Université de Liège	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 70
12	2,089	VC Van Cutsem, Eric	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 90
13	2,312	VD Van de Werf, Frans	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 121
14	2,339	NB Nilius, Bernd	KU Leuven	Physiology	Rank 5
15	2,430	SJ Staessen, Jan A.	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 125
16	2,594	Cani, Patrice D.	Catholic University of Louvain	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 17
17	2,606	MM McKee, Martin	European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies	Public Health	Rank 21
18	2,749	BR Bouillon, Roger	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 93
19	2,982	PM Piccart-Gebhart, Martine	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 135
20	3,024	RP Rousseeuw, Peter J.	KU Leuven	Statistics & Probability	Rank 21
21	3,127	TJ Tack, Jan	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 57
22	3,159	RM Roberfroid, M.	Catholic University of Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 144
23	3,478	DM Dorigo, Marco	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 74
24	3,958	HG Hofstede, Geert	European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management	Business & Management	Rank 26
25	3,998	BJ Balzarini, Jan	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 7
26	4,417	GX Gonze, Xavier	Catholic University of Louvain	Applied Physics	Rank 124
27	4,548	VP Vandenabeele, Peter	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 229
28	4,570	PJ Poesen, Jean	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 8
29	4,604	VW Verbeke, Wim	Universiteit Gent	Food Science	Rank 12
30	4,866	VD Van de Peer, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Developmental Biology	Rank 283
31	4,960	CG Centi, Gabriele	Università degli Studi di Messina	Physical Chemistry	Rank 25
32	5,027	LB Lambrecht, Bart N.	Universiteit Gent	Immunology	Rank 201
33	5,275	PR Pauwels, Romain A.	University Hospital of Ghent	Respiratory System	Rank 47
34	5,295	KJ Koenderink, Jan	KU Leuven	Experimental Psychology	Rank 84
35	5,508	VW Verstraete, Willy	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 133
36	5,626	CG Cornelis, Guy R.	University of Namur	Microbiology	Rank 136
37	5,655	PF Peeters, Francois M.	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 143
38	5,878	TP Tompa, Peter	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 309
39	6,279	DV Desmet, Valeer	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 97
40	6,863	GH Goossens, Herman	Universiteit Antwerpen	Microbiology	Rank 171
41	7,042	KJ Kruth, Jean Pierre	KU Leuven	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 51
42	7,063	SJ Schoenen, Jean	Université de Liège	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 623
43	7,087	ID Inzé, Dirk	Universiteit Gent	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 55
44	7,145	LS Laureys, Steven	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 629
45	7,177	DH De Houwer, Jan	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 110
46	7,354	WJ Wang, J.	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 38
47	7,479	VR Vanholder, Raymond	University Hospital of Ghent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 68
48	7,646	VB Van Broeckhoven, Christine	Universiteit Antwerpen	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 676
49	7,791	FW Fiers, W.	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 416
50	7,871	LN Lameire, Norbert	University Hospital of Ghent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 73
51	7,935	DJ Donnez, Jacques	Catholic University of Louvain	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 36
52	8,063	HJ Henquin, Jean Claude	Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 238
53	8,068	MP Maquet, Pierre	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 703
54	8,300	LH Lijnen, H. Roger	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 413
55	8,411	DY Dufrêne, Yves F.	Catholic University of Louvain	Microbiology	Rank 203
56	8,436	DV De Vuyst, Luc	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Microbiology	Rank 205
57	8,825	BT Boon, Thierry	de Duve Institute	Immunology	Rank 345
58	8,867	BM Brysbaert, Marc	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 137
59	8,921	VA Vermeulen, A.	Universiteit Gent	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 263
60	9,093	RT Roskams, Tania	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 147
61	9,180	VJ Vermorken, Jan B.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 423
62	9,222	GW Glänzel, Wolfgang	KU Leuven	Science Studies	Rank 9
63	9,294	DM Decramer, Marc	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Respiratory System	Rank 98
64	9,459	VS van Steenberghe, Daniel	KU Leuven	Dentistry	Rank 35
65	9,513	BA Berger, André	Catholic University of Louvain	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 107
66	9,672	CJ Cornil, Jérôme	Université de Mons	Chemical Physics	Rank 252
67	9,683	VS Van Steirteghem, André	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 44
68	9,974	FJ Fryns, J. P.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Genetics & Heredity	Rank 38
69	10,369	BM Buyse, Marc	International Drug Development Institute, Charleroi	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 475
70	10,450	HR Hoogenboom, R.	Universiteit Gent	Polymers	Rank 85
71	10,563	VS Vermeire, Séverine	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 180
72	10,602	CJ Charlier, J. C.	Catholic University of Louvain	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 125
73	10,714	VP Vandamme, Peter	Ghent University, Laboratory of Microbiology	Microbiology	Rank 247
74	10,715	DN Delzenne, Nathalie M.	Catholic University of Louvain	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 83
75	10,834	MC Mathieu, Chantal	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 312
76	10,959	TJ Thevelein, Johan M.	Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology	Microbiology	Rank 254
77	11,181	VY Vandenplas, Yvan	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 189
78	11,350	DP Devroey, Paul	Center for Reproductive Medicine	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 62
79	11,384	DB De Backer, Guy	Universiteit Gent	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 551
80	11,476	BP Brugada, Pedro	Free Universities of Brussels	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 553
81	11,660	BA Bogaerts, Annemie	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 275
82	11,789	BJ Body, J. J.	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann, Brussels	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 539
83	11,911	VH Van Humbeeck, Jan	KU Leuven	Materials	Rank 139
84	11,942	BB Blocken, B.	KU Leuven	Building & Construction	Rank 13
85	12,128	NR Naeije, Robert	Free Universities of Brussels	Respiratory System	Rank 120
86	12,220	HJ Harvey, Jeremy N.	KU Leuven	Chemical Physics	Rank 313
87	12,245	DB De Backer, Daniel	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 37
88	12,351	BG Boeckxstaens, Guy	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 199
89	12,469	HM Henneaux, Marc	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 194
90	12,766	VJ Vansteenkiste, J.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 578
91	12,853	GA Goldbeter, Albert	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Biophysics	Rank 26
92	12,958	BA Bernard, Alfred	Catholic University of Louvain	Toxicology	Rank 41
93	13,014	BI Brosens, Ivo	KU Leuven	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 77
94	13,203	VI Vergote, Ignace	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 594
95	13,214	GG Govers, Gerard	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 27
96	13,401	HP Hainaut, Pierre	Catholic University of Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 602
97	13,504	CM Citron, Martin	UCB S.A.	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 699
98	13,846	DM De Moor, Bart	KU Leuven	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 97
99	13,926	GS Goriely, Stephane	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 213
100	13,989	NY Nesterov, Yurii	Catholic University of Louvain	Operations Research	Rank 27
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2021

Israel1,870 scientistsin 2021

Denmark1,808 scientistsin 2021

South Korea1,751 scientistsin 2021

Taiwan1,479 scientistsin 2021

Finland1,217 scientistsin 2021

Austria1,162 scientistsin 2021

Explore other countries

Career-long list2021

Germany9,986 scientistsin 2021

France5,912 scientistsin 2021

Netherlands3,857 scientistsin 2021

Switzerland2,974 scientistsin 2021

Luxembourg42 scientistsin 2021

United Kingdom17,237 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 career-long list, KU Leuven has the most listed scientists from Belgium, with 290. It is followed by Universiteit Gent with 267.

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

On the career-long list, Belgium went from 1,413 scientists in 2020 to 1,666 in 2021, a change of +17.9%.

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.