Belgium's Top 2% Scientists 2022

Belgium has 1,872 scientists on the 2022 single-year Top 2% list, up 5.2% from 1,780 in 2021. That places Belgium 18th in the world by number of listed scientists, down 1 place. Universiteit Gent has the most listed scientists (358), followed by KU Leuven (347).

Single Year

1,872

+92 (+5.2%) vs 2021

Career Data

1,769

+103 (+6.2%) vs 2021

World rank by count

#18

down 1 place vs 2021

Institutes

161

-2 (-1.2%) vs 2021

Scientists in Belgium on the list, by year

The single-year count has grown 25% 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 list2022

Show the list

1Universiteit Gent358
2KU Leuven347
3Université Catholique de Louvain127
4Universiteit Antwerpen110
5KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven106
6Université Libre de Bruxelles88
7Université de Liège82
8Vrije Universiteit Brussel80
9Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent53
10Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc32

All 1,872 scientists

Single-year list2022

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	120	VJ Vincent, Jean Louis	Hôpital Erasme	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 1
2	133	CP Carmeliet, Peter	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 6
3	173	Cani, Patrice D.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 4
4	459	DC De Clercq, Erik	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1
5	552	BK Binnemans, Koen	KU Leuven	Organic Chemistry	Rank 3
6	618	RP Rousseeuw, Peter J.	KU Leuven	Statistics & Probability	Rank 11
7	947	Van der Bruggen, Bart	KU Leuven	Chemical Engineering	Rank 5
8	969	SA Scheen, André	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 23
9	1,002	RY Rosseel, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Social Sciences Methods	Rank 7
10	1,110	HG Hofstede, Geert	European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management	Business & Management	Rank 28
11	1,135	BB Blocken, Bert	KU Leuven	Building & Construction	Rank 7
12	1,201	VW Verbeke, Wim	Universiteit Gent	Food Science	Rank 9
13	1,458	BM Brysbaert, Marc	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 25
14	1,942	KJ Kruth, Jean Pierre	KU Leuven	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 13
15	2,171	NY Nesterov, Yurii	Université Catholique de Louvain	Operations Research	Rank 9
16	2,551	PJ Poesen, Jean	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 8
17	2,620	RJ Reginster, Jean Yves	Université de Liège	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 48
18	2,711	RP Rutgeerts, Paul	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 38
19	2,867	LB Lambrecht, Bart N.	Universiteit Gent	Immunology	Rank 79
20	3,106	FR Fagard, Robert	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 98
21	3,187	VW Verstraete, Willy	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 64
22	3,429	VP Vandenabeele, Peter	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 89
23	3,433	GX Gonze, Xavier	Université Catholique de Louvain	Applied Physics	Rank 92
24	3,627	VH Van Humbeeck, Jan	KU Leuven	Materials	Rank 55
25	3,727	NS Nolan, Steven P.	Universiteit Gent	Organic Chemistry	Rank 59
26	3,728	TJ Tack, Jan	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 52
27	3,801	VD Van den Berghe, Greet	Departement Cellulaire en Moleculaire Geneeskunde	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 81
28	3,995	BA Bogaerts, Annemie	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 100
29	4,154	BR Bouillon, Roger	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 87
30	4,241	LM Lamkanfi, Mohamed	Universiteit Gent	Immunology	Rank 118
31	4,357	MS Muyldermans, Serge	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 109
32	4,619	DH De Houwer, Jan	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 89
33	4,621	BC Blanpain, Cédric	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Developmental Biology	Rank 186
34	4,645	LP Lancellotti, Patrizio	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 154
35	4,879	VC Van Cutsem, E.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 178
36	5,076	HR Hoogenboom, Richard	Universiteit Gent	Polymers	Rank 25
37	5,135	LS Laureys, Steven	Université de Liège	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 342
38	5,399	RM Roberfroid, M.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 203
39	5,435	SJ Suykens, Johan A.K.	KU Leuven	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 181
40	5,857	DM Dorigo, Marco	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 199
41	5,897	RK Ravichandran, Kodi S.	Universiteit Gent	Developmental Biology	Rank 229
42	5,928	TP Tompa, Peter	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 143
43	6,196	DN Delzenne, Nathalie M.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 42
44	6,257	NB Nilius, Bernd	KU Leuven	Physiology	Rank 8
45	6,521	AM Aalbers, Manuel B.	KU Leuven	Urban & Regional Planning	Rank 14
46	7,188	MC Michiels, Carine	University of Namur	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 170
47	7,325	RK Rabaey, Korneel	Universiteit Gent	Environmental Sciences	Rank 75
48	7,385	DF Danhier, Fabienne	Université Catholique de Louvain	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 37
49	7,442	BH Brüssow, Harald	Departement Biosystemen	Microbiology	Rank 160
50	7,490	DV De Vuyst, Luc	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Microbiology	Rank 161
51	7,983	Coenye, Tom	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 174
52	8,015	PM Piccart-Gebhart, Martine	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 300
53	8,020	NR Naeije, Robert	Free Universities of Brussels	Respiratory System	Rank 54
54	8,078	DJ Donnez, Jacques	Université Catholique de Louvain	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 29
55	8,130	VA Verbeke, Alain	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Business & Management	Rank 179
56	8,152	MC Mathieu, Chantal	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 158
57	8,219	SJ Staessen, Jan A.	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 274
58	8,374	DB De Belie, Nele	Universiteit Gent	Building & Construction	Rank 46
59	8,465	TH Tabari, Hossein	KU Leuven	Environmental Engineering	Rank 41
60	8,508	MP Meyfroidt, Patrick	Université Catholique de Louvain	Ecology	Rank 224
61	8,580	BG Boeckxstaens, Guy	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 104
62	8,625	KP Kuppens, Peter	KU Leuven	Social Psychology	Rank 185
63	8,636	DS De Schutter, Geert	Universiteit Gent	Building & Construction	Rank 51
64	8,703	RJ Raes, Jeroen	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Microbiology	Rank 192
65	8,948	MA Maas, Andrew I.R.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 560
66	9,003	DB de Backer, Daniel	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 31
67	9,077	GW Glänzel, Wolfgang	KU Leuven	Science Studies	Rank 17
68	9,605	AP Agostinis, Patrizia	Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 230
69	9,818	DL De Lathauwer, Lieven	KU Leuven	Networking & Telecommunications	Rank 78
70	9,833	SR Sylvester, Richard	European Association of Urology Guidelines Office	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 59
71	10,287	GS Goriely, S.	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 115
72	10,372	GH Goossens, Herman	Universiteit Antwerpen	Microbiology	Rank 234
73	10,401	VM Vansteenkiste, Maarten	Universiteit Gent	Social Psychology	Rank 202
74	10,449	NT Notteboom, Theo	Universiteit Gent	Logistics & Transportation	Rank 24
75	10,556	VR Vanholder, Raymond	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 65
76	10,573	SL Simar, Léopold	Université Catholique de Louvain	Econometrics	Rank 26
77	10,808	VD Vancampfort, Davy	Departement Revalidatiewetenschappen	Psychiatry	Rank 252
78	10,812	AM Antrop, Marc	Universiteit Gent	Urban & Regional Planning	Rank 24
79	10,941	HH Heidbuchel, Hein	Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 370
80	10,953	BA Berger, André	Université Catholique de Louvain	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 204
81	11,049	DY Dufrêne, Yves F.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Microbiology	Rank 251
82	11,156	VD Van de Peer, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Bioinformatics	Rank 45
83	11,606	VY Vandenplas, Yvan	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 145
84	11,839	MJ Maertens, Johan	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Microbiology	Rank 276
85	12,026	GG Govers, Gerard	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 58
86	12,443	CC Caloz, Christophe	Departement Elektrotechniek (ESAT)	Networking & Telecommunications	Rank 104
87	12,537	MR Meeusen, Romain	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Sport Sciences	Rank 49
88	12,649	CA Covaci, Adrian	Universiteit Antwerpen	Environmental Sciences	Rank 146
89	12,717	RF Raes, Filip	KU Leuven	Clinical Psychology	Rank 74
90	12,839	CL Chibotaru, Liviu F.	KU Leuven	Applied Physics	Rank 265
91	12,959	FO Feron, Olivier	Université Catholique de Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 489
92	13,057	DM De Meester, Luc	KU Leuven	Marine Biology & Hydrobiology	Rank 73
93	13,103	VJ Vandesompele, Jo	Universiteit Gent	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 494
94	13,239	TD Thal, Dietmar Rudolf	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 802
95	13,423	HM Hooghe, Marc	KU Leuven	Political Science & Public Administration	Rank 80
96	13,700	VD Van de Werf, Frans	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 458
97	13,997	BW Boerjan, Wout	Universiteit Gent	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 175
98	14,596	AD Aggelis, Dimitrios G.	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Building & Construction	Rank 82
99	14,780	KG Kelchtermans, Geert	KU Leuven	Education	Rank 110
100	14,957	BV Blondel, Vincent	Université Catholique de Louvain	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 138
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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2022

Sweden2,472 scientistsin 2022

Iran1,943 scientistsin 2022

Denmark1,890 scientistsin 2022

Israel1,537 scientistsin 2022

Taiwan1,340 scientistsin 2022

Hong Kong1,270 scientistsin 2022

Explore other countries

Single-year list2022

Germany9,961 scientistsin 2022

France5,509 scientistsin 2022

Netherlands4,214 scientistsin 2022

Switzerland3,233 scientistsin 2022

Austria1,261 scientistsin 2022

Luxembourg72 scientistsin 2022

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Belgium are in the 2022 Stanford Top 2% list?

1,872 scientists affiliated with Belgium are on the 2022 single-year list, and 1,769 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2022 single-year list, Universiteit Gent has the most listed scientists from Belgium, with 358. It is followed by KU Leuven with 347.

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 1,872 in 2022, a change of +24.6%.

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.