Belgium's Top 2% Scientists 2023: Career-Long List

Belgium has 1,861 scientists on the 2023 career-long Top 2% list, up 5.2% from 1,769 in 2022. That places Belgium 18th in the world by number of listed scientists. KU Leuven has the most listed scientists (323), followed by Universiteit Gent (306).

Single Year

1,935

+63 (+3.4%) vs 2022

Career Data

1,861

+92 (+5.2%) vs 2022

World rank by count

#18

No change vs 2022

Institutes

183

+6 (+3.4%) vs 2022

Scientists in Belgium on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 32% 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 list2023

Show the list

1KU Leuven323
2Universiteit Gent306
3Université Catholique de Louvain142
4Université Libre de Bruxelles106
5Universiteit Antwerpen103
6KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven89
7Université de Liège88
8Vrije Universiteit Brussel74
9Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc45
10Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent42

All 1,861 scientists

Career-long list2023

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	84	DC De Clercq, Erik	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1
2	91	VJ Vincent, Jean Louis	Hôpital Erasme	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 1
3	642	RP Rutgeerts, Paul	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 8
4	1,194	BK Binnemans, Koen	KU Leuven	Organic Chemistry	Rank 34
5	1,244	NS Nolan, Steven P.	Universiteit Gent	Organic Chemistry	Rank 36
6	1,263	FR Fagard, R.	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 73
7	1,300	SA Scheen, André	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 28
8	1,508	VC Van Cutsem, Eric	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 66
9	1,675	Cani, Patrice D.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 52
10	1,692	VD Van den Berghe, Greet	Departement Cellulaire en Moleculaire Geneeskunde	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 54
11	1,880	RJ Reginster, Jean Yves	Université de Liège	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 65
12	1,951	CD Collen, Desire	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 106
13	2,420	VD Van de Werf, Frans	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 123
14	2,520	BR Bouillon, Roger	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 93
15	2,527	NB Nilius, Bernd	KU Leuven	Physiology	Rank 6
16	2,658	RP Rousseeuw, Peter J.	KU Leuven	Statistics & Probability	Rank 19
17	2,710	SJ Staessen, Jan A.	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 134
18	2,754	TJ Tack, Jan	Departement Chronische Ziekten, Metabolisme en Veroudering	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 49
19	3,252	PM Piccart-Gebhart, Martine	Institut Jules Bordet	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 143
20	3,342	Van der Bruggen, Bart	KU Leuven	Chemical Engineering	Rank 11
21	3,412	RM Roberfroid, M.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 148
22	3,438	DM Dorigo, Marco	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 82
23	3,656	HG Hofstede, Geert	European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management	Business & Management	Rank 27
24	3,858	VW Verbeke, Wim	Universiteit Gent	Food Science	Rank 10
25	4,289	GX Gonze, Xavier	Université Catholique de Louvain	Applied Physics	Rank 125
26	4,345	BJ Balzarini, Jan	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 9
27	4,397	VP Vandenabeele, Peter	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 224
28	4,487	LB Lambrecht, Bart N.	Universiteit Gent	Immunology	Rank 181
29	4,663	VD Van de Peer, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 32
30	4,812	BC Bachert, Claus	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Allergy	Rank 17
31	4,904	SJ Suykens, Johan A.K.	KU Leuven	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 107
32	5,262	VW Verstraete, Willy	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 126
33	5,555	DH De Houwer, Jan	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 94
34	5,731	PR Pauwels, Romain A.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Respiratory System	Rank 52
35	5,856	KJ Kruth, Jean Pierre	KU Leuven	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 42
36	5,927	TP Tompa, Peter	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 294
37	6,040	PF Peeters, François M.	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 163
38	6,153	VS Vermeire, Severine	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 96
39	6,196	KJ Koenderink, Jan J.	KU Leuven	Experimental Psychology	Rank 104
40	6,290	CG Cornelis, Guy R.	Université de Namur	Microbiology	Rank 158
41	6,343	LS Laureys, Steven	Université de Liège	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 554
42	6,458	DV Desmet, Valeer J.	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 105
43	6,616	BM Brysbaert, Marc	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 110
44	6,926	GH Goossens, Herman	Universiteit Antwerpen	Microbiology	Rank 176
45	7,067	VR Vanholder, Raymond C.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 62
46	7,470	DJ Donnez, Jacques	Université Catholique de Louvain	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 33
47	7,483	SJ Schoenen, Jean	Université de Liège	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 643
48	7,627	ID Inzé, Dirk	Universiteit Gent	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 66
49	7,800	DV De Vuyst, Luc	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Microbiology	Rank 195
50	8,115	LN Lameire, Norbert H.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 79
51	8,273	VB Van Broeckhoven, Christine	Universiteit Antwerpen	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 713
52	8,347	BB Blocken, B.	KU Leuven	Building & Construction	Rank 12
53	8,364	BJ Bazán, J. Fernando	Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 419
54	8,564	DY Dufrêne, Yves F.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Microbiology	Rank 214
55	8,710	LR Lijnen, Roger	Departement Cardiovasculaire Wetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 426
56	8,797	MP Maquet, Pierre	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 761
57	8,831	VH Van Humbeeck, Jan	KU Leuven	Materials	Rank 106
58	8,833	HJ Henquin, Jean Claude	Faculté de Médecine et Médecine Dentaire	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 262
59	9,064	GW Glänzel, Wolfgang	KU Leuven	Science Studies	Rank 10
60	9,113	FW Fiers, W.	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 463
61	9,178	VJ Vermorken, Jan B.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 420
62	9,441	FR Feyereisen, René	Universiteit Gent	Entomology	Rank 7
63	9,473	HR Hoogenboom, Richard	Universiteit Gent	Polymers	Rank 74
64	9,655	DN Delzenne, Nathalie	Université Catholique de Louvain	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 75
65	9,732	RT Roskams, Tania	Departement Beeldvorming & Pathologie	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 169
66	9,849	MC Mathieu, Chantal	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 292
67	9,880	BA Berger, André	Université Catholique de Louvain	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 115
68	9,914	BA Bogaerts, Annemie	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 256
69	9,973	VA Vermeulen, A.	Universiteit Gent	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 297
70	10,051	RY Rosseel, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Social Sciences Methods	Rank 12
71	10,162	VY Vandenplas, Yvan	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 178
72	10,214	VI Vergote, Ignace	Leuvens Kankerinstituut	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 464
73	10,267	VS van Steenberghe, Daniel	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Dentistry	Rank 38
74	10,338	DM Decramer, Marc	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Respiratory System	Rank 103
75	10,397	BT Boon, Thierry	de Duve Institute	Immunology	Rank 395
76	10,544	BM Buyse, Marc	International Drug Development Institute, Charleroi	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 477
77	10,713	DB De Backer, Daniel	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 33
78	10,758	NR Naeije, Robert	Free Universities of Brussels	Respiratory System	Rank 106
79	10,836	VS Van Steirteghem, André	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 59
80	10,909	RK Ravichandran, Kodi S.	Universiteit Gent	Developmental Biology	Rank 508
81	10,962	CJ Cornil, Jérôme	Université de Mons	Chemical Physics	Rank 260
82	11,018	NY Nesterov, Yurii	Université Catholique de Louvain	Operations Research	Rank 22
83	11,051	VP Vandamme, Peter	Ghent University, Laboratory of Microbiology	Microbiology	Rank 262
84	11,073	FJ Fryns, J. P.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Genetics & Heredity	Rank 38
85	11,143	BG Boeckxstaens, Guy	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 198
86	11,153	DB De Backer, Guy G.	Universiteit Ghent, Faculteit Geneeskunde en Gezondheidswetenschappen	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 540
87	11,609	TJ Thevelein, J.	NovelYeast bv	Microbiology	Rank 273
88	11,628	CJ Charlier, Jean Christophe	Université Catholique de Louvain	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 152
89	12,038	MS Muyldermans, Serge	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 592
90	12,140	BJ Body, Jean Jacques	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 549
91	12,170	BP Brugada, Pedro	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 573
92	12,267	HJ Harvey, Jeremy N.	KU Leuven	Chemical Physics	Rank 285
93	12,472	DP Devroey, Paul	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 70
94	12,694	VJ Vansteenkiste, Johan	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 568
95	13,034	GG Govers, Gerard	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 30
96	13,416	GA Goldbeter, Albert	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 666
97	13,794	BA Bernard, Alfred	Université Catholique de Louvain	Toxicology	Rank 40
98	13,840	SP Smets, Philippe	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 270
99	14,102	MJ Maertens, Johan	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Microbiology	Rank 334
100	14,123	GS Goriely, S.	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 203
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2023

South Korea2,120 scientistsin 2023

Israel2,037 scientistsin 2023

Denmark2,034 scientistsin 2023

Taiwan1,669 scientistsin 2023

Finland1,364 scientistsin 2023

Norway1,315 scientistsin 2023

Explore other countries

Career-long list2023

Germany10,990 scientistsin 2023

France6,522 scientistsin 2023

Netherlands4,259 scientistsin 2023

Switzerland3,261 scientistsin 2023

Austria1,311 scientistsin 2023

Luxembourg50 scientistsin 2023

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Belgium are in the 2023 Stanford Top 2% list?

1,935 scientists affiliated with Belgium are on the 2023 single-year list, and 1,861 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2023 career-long list, KU Leuven has the most listed scientists from Belgium, with 323. It is followed by Universiteit Gent with 306.

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 1,861 in 2023, a change of +31.7%.

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.