Belgium's Top 2% Scientists 2022: Career-Long List

Belgium has 1,769 scientists on the 2022 career-long Top 2% list, up 6.2% from 1,666 in 2021. That places Belgium 18th in the world by number of listed scientists. KU Leuven has the most listed scientists (304), followed by Universiteit Gent (285).

Single Year

1,872

+92 (+5.2%) vs 2021

Career Data

1,769

+103 (+6.2%) vs 2021

World rank by count

#18

No change vs 2021

Institutes

177

+12 (+7.3%) vs 2021

Scientists in Belgium on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 25% 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 list2022

Show the list

1KU Leuven304
2Universiteit Gent285
3Université Catholique de Louvain139
4Université Libre de Bruxelles104
5Universiteit Antwerpen97
6Université de Liège91
7KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven88
8Vrije Universiteit Brussel63
9Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent43
10Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc38

All 1,769 scientists

Career-long 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	68	CP Carmeliet, Peter	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 8
2	82	DC De Clercq, Erik	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1
3	101	VJ Vincent, Jean Louis	Hôpital Erasme	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 1
4	583	RP Rutgeerts, Paul	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 8
5	1,120	NS Nolan, Steven P.	Universiteit Gent	Organic Chemistry	Rank 34
6	1,188	FR Fagard, Robert	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 70
7	1,317	BK Binnemans, Koen	KU Leuven	Organic Chemistry	Rank 39
8	1,456	SA Scheen, André	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 31
9	1,660	CD Collen, Desire	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 95
10	1,754	VD Van den Berghe, Greet	Departement Cellulaire en Moleculaire Geneeskunde	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 60
11	1,970	RJ Reginster, Jean Yves	Université de Liège	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 69
12	2,144	VC Van Cutsem, E.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 89
13	2,171	VD Van de Werf, Frans	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 113
14	2,247	Cani, Patrice D.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 83
15	2,360	NB Nilius, Bernd	KU Leuven	Physiology	Rank 6
16	2,499	SJ Staessen, Jan A.	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 128
17	2,680	BR Bouillon, Roger	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 96
18	2,929	RP Rousseeuw, Peter J.	KU Leuven	Statistics & Probability	Rank 18
19	2,948	HG Hofstede, Geert	European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management	Business & Management	Rank 20
20	3,041	TJ Tack, Jan	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 54
21	3,135	PM Piccart-Gebhart, Martine	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 135
22	3,245	RM Roberfroid, M.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 142
23	3,336	DM Dorigo, Marco	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 77
24	4,046	BJ Balzarini, Jan	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 6
25	4,338	Van der Bruggen, Bart	KU Leuven	Chemical Engineering	Rank 13
26	4,360	GX Gonze, Xavier	Université Catholique de Louvain	Applied Physics	Rank 137
27	4,387	VW Verbeke, Wim	Universiteit Gent	Food Science	Rank 11
28	4,517	PJ Poesen, Jean	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 7
29	4,613	VP Vandenabeele, Peter	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 231
30	4,656	VD Van de Peer, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Bioinformatics	Rank 17
31	4,819	SJ Suykens, Johan A.K.	KU Leuven	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 98
32	4,893	LB Lambrecht, Bart N.	Universiteit Gent	Immunology	Rank 202
33	5,016	PR Pauwels, Romain A.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Respiratory System	Rank 45
34	5,410	VW Verstraete, Willy	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 128
35	5,587	CG Cornelis, Guy R.	University of Namur	Microbiology	Rank 134
36	5,753	DH De Houwer, Jan	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 98
37	5,841	PF Peeters, Francois M.	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 162
38	5,864	TP Tompa, Peter	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 310
39	6,358	DV Desmet, Valeer	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 103
40	6,822	GH Goossens, Herman	Universiteit Antwerpen	Microbiology	Rank 173
41	6,843	KJ Kruth, Jean Pierre	KU Leuven	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 46
42	6,927	LS Laureys, Steven	Université de Liège	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 615
43	7,291	SJ Schoenen, Jean	Université de Liège	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 653
44	7,345	VR Vanholder, Raymond	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 72
45	7,362	ID Inzé, Dirk	Universiteit Gent	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 59
46	7,785	VB Van Broeckhoven, Christine	Universiteit Antwerpen	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 688
47	7,811	DJ Donnez, Jacques	Université Catholique de Louvain	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 35
48	8,063	LN Lameire, Norbert	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 79
49	8,128	FW Fiers, W.	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 429
50	8,195	MP Maquet, Pierre	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 725
51	8,199	HJ Henquin, Jean Claude	Faculté de Médecine et Médecine Dentaire	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 246
52	8,335	DV De Vuyst, Luc	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Microbiology	Rank 204
53	8,404	BM Brysbaert, Marc	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 129
54	8,451	DY Dufrêne, Yves F.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Microbiology	Rank 208
55	8,666	LH Lijnen, H. Roger	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 432
56	9,069	VA Vermeulen, A.	Universiteit Gent	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 274
57	9,088	GW Glänzel, Wolfgang	KU Leuven	Science Studies	Rank 10
58	9,115	RT Roskams, Tania	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 151
59	9,165	BT Boon, Thierry	de Duve Institute	Immunology	Rank 364
60	9,267	VS van Steenberghe, Daniel	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Dentistry	Rank 31
61	9,337	VJ Vermorken, Jan B.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 427
62	9,403	DM Decramer, Marc	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Respiratory System	Rank 99
63	9,419	BA Berger, André	Université Catholique de Louvain	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 108
64	9,775	SR Sylvester, Richard	European Association of Urology Guidelines Office	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 92
65	9,803	HR Hoogenboom, Richard	Universiteit Gent	Polymers	Rank 80
66	9,829	VS Van Steirteghem, André	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 45
67	9,885	VH Van Humbeeck, Jan	KU Leuven	Materials	Rank 115
68	10,039	CJ Cornil, Jérôme	Université de Mons	Chemical Physics	Rank 250
69	10,149	FJ Fryns, J. P.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Genetics & Heredity	Rank 38
70	10,202	BM Buyse, Marc	International Drug Development Institute, Charleroi	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 470
71	10,391	DN Delzenne, Nathalie M.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 76
72	10,545	VS Vermeire, Séverine	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 182
73	10,581	RK Ravichandran, Kodi S.	Universiteit Gent	Developmental Biology	Rank 507
74	10,726	MC Mathieu, Chantal	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 313
75	10,813	BB Blocken, Bert	KU Leuven	Building & Construction	Rank 13
76	10,870	VP Vandamme, Peter	Ghent University, Laboratory of Microbiology	Microbiology	Rank 254
77	10,889	DB De Backer, Guy	Universiteit Gent	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 528
78	10,906	CJ Charlier, J. C.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 138
79	11,069	VY Vandenplas, Yvan	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 188
80	11,257	TJ Thevelein, Johan M.	KU Leuven	Microbiology	Rank 264
81	11,476	DP Devroey, Paul	Centrum voor Reproductieve Geneeskunde	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 63
82	11,517	BA Bogaerts, Annemie	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 298
83	11,571	BP Brugada, Pedro	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 557
84	11,611	NR Naeije, Robert	Free Universities of Brussels	Respiratory System	Rank 114
85	11,664	BJ Body, J. J.	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 529
86	11,709	DB de Backer, Daniel	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 33
87	12,244	BG Boeckxstaens, Guy	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 203
88	12,246	HJ Harvey, Jeremy N.	KU Leuven	Chemical Physics	Rank 304
89	12,731	VJ Vansteenkiste, J.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 570
90	13,185	NY Nesterov, Yurii	Université Catholique de Louvain	Operations Research	Rank 26
91	13,306	GA Goldbeter, Albert	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 698
92	13,502	BA Bernard, Alfred	Université Catholique de Louvain	Toxicology	Rank 40
93	13,513	GG Govers, Gerard	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 28
94	13,527	VI Vergote, Ignace	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 606
95	13,621	RY Rosseel, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Social Sciences Methods	Rank 16
96	13,739	DM De Moor, Bart	KU Leuven	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 94
97	14,106	MS Muyldermans, Serge	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 724
98	14,242	CM Citron, Martin	UCB S.A.	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 1,197
99	14,371	GS Goriely, S.	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 207
100	14,566	BI Brosens, Ivo	KU Leuven	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 92
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2022

Israel1,958 scientistsin 2022

Denmark1,955 scientistsin 2022

South Korea1,901 scientistsin 2022

Taiwan1,601 scientistsin 2022

Finland1,304 scientistsin 2022

Norway1,253 scientistsin 2022

Explore other countries

Career-long list2022

Germany10,562 scientistsin 2022

France6,284 scientistsin 2022

Netherlands4,063 scientistsin 2022

Switzerland3,141 scientistsin 2022

Austria1,246 scientistsin 2022

Luxembourg46 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 career-long list, KU Leuven has the most listed scientists from Belgium, with 304. It is followed by Universiteit Gent with 285.

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 1,769 in 2022, a change of +25.2%.

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.