Belgium's Top 2% Scientists 2024: Career-Long List

Belgium has 1,997 scientists on the 2024 career-long Top 2% list, up 7.3% from 1,861 in 2023. That places Belgium 18th in the world by number of listed scientists. KU Leuven has the most listed scientists (451), followed by Universiteit Gent (339).

Single Year

2,007

+72 (+3.7%) vs 2023

Career Data

1,997

+136 (+7.3%) vs 2023

World rank by count

#18

No change vs 2023

Institutes

167

-16 (-8.7%) vs 2023

Scientists in Belgium on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 41% 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 list2024

Show the list

1KU Leuven451
2Universiteit Gent339
3Université Catholique de Louvain197
4Université Libre de Bruxelles140
5Universiteit Antwerpen131
6Université de Liège107
7Vrije Universiteit Brussel73
8KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven67
9Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent37
10Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege28

All 1,997 scientists

Career-long list2024

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	67	CP Carmeliet, Peter	Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 8
2	90	DC De Clercq, Erik	Rega Institute for Medical Research	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1
3	93	VJ Vincent, Jean Louis	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 1
4	535	SW Schaufeli, Wilmar B.	KU Leuven	Business & Management	Rank 6
5	677	RP Rutgeerts, Paul	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 10
6	1,095	BK Binnemans, Koen	KU Leuven	Organic Chemistry	Rank 33
7	1,208	SA Scheen, André	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 28
8	1,323	NS Nolan, Steven P.	Universiteit Gent	Organic Chemistry	Rank 41
9	1,347	FR Fagard, R.	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 75
10	1,354	Cani, Patrice D.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 39
11	1,530	VC Van Cutsem, Eric	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 66
12	1,540	DS De Strooper, Bart	Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 152
13	1,688	VD Van den Berghe, Greet	Departement Cellulaire en Moleculaire Geneeskunde	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 50
14	1,846	RJ Reginster, Jean Yves	Université de Liège	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 60
15	2,043	CD Collen, Desire	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 108
16	2,385	RP Rousseeuw, Peter J.	KU Leuven	Statistics & Probability	Rank 18
17	2,572	BR Bouillon, Roger	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 90
18	2,582	NB Nilius, Bernd	KU Leuven	Physiology	Rank 6
19	2,666	TJ Tack, Jan	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 47
20	2,709	Van der Bruggen, Bart	KU Leuven	Chemical Engineering	Rank 10
21	2,794	LE Lambin, Eric F.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Ecology	Rank 58
22	3,129	DM Dorigo, Marco	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 79
23	3,329	PM Piccart-Gebhart, Martine	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 141
24	3,549	RM Roberfroid, M.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 149
25	3,643	VW Verbeke, Wim	Universiteit Gent	Food Science	Rank 9
26	3,669	HG Hofstede, Geert	European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management	Business & Management	Rank 27
27	3,704	PJ Poesen, Jean	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 7
28	4,158	LB Lambrecht, Bart N.	Universiteit Gent	Immunology	Rank 168
29	4,253	GX Gonze, X.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Applied Physics	Rank 121
30	4,322	VP Vandenabeele, Peter	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 205
31	4,588	BJ Balzarini, Jan	KU Leuven	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 10
32	4,752	SJ Suykens, Johan A.K.	KU Leuven	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 111
33	4,818	VD Van de Peer, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 33
34	5,190	VW Verstraete, W.	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 127
35	5,264	KJ Kruth, Jean Pierre	Flanders Make	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 38
36	5,308	DH De Houwer, Jan	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 92
37	5,455	VJ Verweij, Jaap	Cancer Drug Development Forum	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 241
38	5,483	BM Brysbaert, Marc	Universiteit Gent	Experimental Psychology	Rank 94
39	5,646	VS Vermeire, Séverine	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 92
40	5,777	LS Laureys, Steven	Université de Liège	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 498
41	5,790	TP Tompa, Peter	Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 264
42	6,236	GH Goossens, Herman	Universiteit Antwerpen	Microbiology	Rank 155
43	6,289	PR Pauwels, Romain A.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Respiratory System	Rank 58
44	6,368	PF Peeters, Francois M.	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 170
45	6,791	VR Vanholder, Raymond	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 58
46	6,806	CG Cornelis, Guy R.	Université de Namur	Microbiology	Rank 171
47	7,003	DJ Donnez, Jacques	Université Catholique de Louvain	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 30
48	7,148	DV Desmet, Valeer J.	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 121
49	7,319	RY Rosseel, Yves	Universiteit Gent	Social Sciences Methods	Rank 7
50	7,460	DV De Vuyst, Luc	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Microbiology	Rank 185
51	7,595	SJ Schoenen, Jean	Université de Liège	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 642
52	7,948	ID Inzé, Dirk	Universiteit Gent	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 66
53	8,226	LN Lameire, Norbert	Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent	Urology & Nephrology	Rank 75
54	8,411	DY Dufrêne, Yves F.	Université Catholique de Louvain	Microbiology	Rank 209
55	8,436	HJ Humbeeck, Jan Van	KU Leuven	Materials	Rank 103
56	8,548	BA Bogaerts, Annemie	Universiteit Antwerpen	Applied Physics	Rank 219
57	8,905	MC Mathieu, Chantal	KU Leuven	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 257
58	8,922	GW Glänzel, Wolfgang	KU Leuven	Science Studies	Rank 10
59	8,971	VC Verfaillie, Catherine	KU Leuven	Immunology	Rank 347
60	8,985	HR Hoogenboom, Richard	Universiteit Gent	Polymers	Rank 68
61	9,043	MP Maquet, Pierre	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 762
62	9,148	BJ Bazán, J. Fernando	Universiteit Gent	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 442
63	9,280	DN Delzenne, Nathalie	Université Catholique de Louvain	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 72
64	9,287	HJ Henquin, Jean Claude	Université Catholique de Louvain	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 267
65	9,432	VJ Vermorken, Jan B.	Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 428
66	9,483	DB De Backer, Daniel	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Emergency & Critical Care Medicine	Rank 31
67	9,509	FR Feyereisen, René	Universiteit Gent	Entomology	Rank 8
68	9,576	LR Lijnen, Roger	KU Leuven	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 461
69	9,662	VI Vergote, Ignace	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 439
70	9,673	VY Vandenplas, Yvan	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 163
71	9,791	NY Nesterov, Yurii	Université Catholique de Louvain	Operations Research	Rank 21
72	9,866	FW Fiers, W.	Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 473
73	10,120	NR Naeije, Robert	Free Universities of Brussels	Respiratory System	Rank 99
74	10,129	BA Berger, André	Université Catholique de Louvain	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 118
75	10,183	DM Decramer, Marc	KU Leuven	Respiratory System	Rank 100
76	10,456	BG Boeckxstaens, Guy	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 182
77	10,711	VS van Steenberghe, Daniel	KU Leuven	Dentistry	Rank 39
78	10,735	RT Roskams, Tania	KU Leuven	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 189
79	10,775	VA Vermeulen, A.	Universiteit Gent	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 310
80	10,982	BM Buyse, Marc	International Drug Development Institute, Charleroi	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 491
81	11,112	VP Vandamme, Peter	Universiteit Gent	Microbiology	Rank 262
82	11,435	BT Boon, Thierry	Université Catholique de Louvain	Immunology	Rank 426
83	11,515	CJ Cornil, Jérôme	Université de Mons	Chemical Physics	Rank 268
84	11,537	VS Van Steirteghem, André	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 64
85	11,690	DB De Backer, Guy	Universiteit Gent	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 553
86	11,847	FJ Fryns, J. P.	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Genetics & Heredity	Rank 42
87	11,900	CJ Charlier, Jean Christophe	Université Catholique de Louvain	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 171
88	12,041	TJ Thevelein, Johan	Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie	Microbiology	Rank 284
89	12,333	HJ Harvey, Jeremy	KU Leuven	Chemical Physics	Rank 283
90	12,439	MS Muyldermans, Serge	Vrije Universiteit Brussel	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 586
91	12,494	LP Lancellotti, Patrizio	Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 579
92	12,538	VJ Vansteenkiste, Johan F.	KU Leuven	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 552
93	12,578	BJ Body, Jean Jacques	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 554
94	12,744	BP Brugada, Pedro	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 588
95	12,997	GG Govers, Gerard	KU Leuven	Geography	Rank 33
96	13,141	MJ Maertens, Johan	KU Leuven– University Hospital Leuven	Microbiology	Rank 309
97	13,145	HM Henneaux, Marc	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 177
98	13,199	DP Devroey, Paul	Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 78
99	13,330	VB Van Broeckhoven, Christine	Universiteit Antwerpen	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 1,089
100	13,624	GS Goriely, S.	Université Libre de Bruxelles	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 182
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2024

South Korea2,366 scientistsin 2024

Denmark2,114 scientistsin 2024

Israel2,093 scientistsin 2024

Taiwan1,759 scientistsin 2024

Finland1,445 scientistsin 2024

Austria1,403 scientistsin 2024

Explore other countries

Career-long list2024

Germany11,573 scientistsin 2024

France6,921 scientistsin 2024

Netherlands4,515 scientistsin 2024

Switzerland3,431 scientistsin 2024

Luxembourg53 scientistsin 2024

United Kingdom19,646 scientistsin 2024

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Belgium are in the 2024 Stanford Top 2% list?

2,007 scientists affiliated with Belgium are on the 2024 single-year list, and 1,997 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2024 career-long list, KU Leuven has the most listed scientists from Belgium, with 451. It is followed by Universiteit Gent with 339.

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 1,997 in 2024, a change of +41.3%.

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.