Denmark's Top 2% Scientists 2021

Denmark has 1,795 scientists on the 2021 single-year Top 2% list, up 18.5% from 1,515 in 2020. That places Denmark 16th in the world by number of listed scientists. Københavns Universitet has the most listed scientists (341), followed by Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (301).

Single Year

1,795

+280 (+18.5%) vs 2020

Career Data

1,808

+313 (+20.9%) vs 2020

World rank by count

#16

No change vs 2020

Institutes

124

+20 (+19.2%) vs 2020

Scientists in Denmark on the list, by year

The single-year count has grown 18% since 2020.

Single-year list, change on the previous year

2021+18.5%

2022+5.3%

2023+3.6%

2024+2.8%

2025+2.4%

Show the numbers

Year	Single Year	Change	Career Data	Change
2020	1,515		1,495
2021	1,795	+18.5%	1,808	+20.9%
2022	1,890	+5.3%	1,955	+8.1%
2023	1,958	+3.6%	2,034	+4.0%
2024	2,013	+2.8%	2,114	+3.9%
2025	2,061	+2.4%	2,207	+4.4%

Top 10 institutes in Denmark

By number of listed scientists

Single-year list2021

Show the list

1Københavns Universitet341
2Danmarks Tekniske Universitet301
3Aarhus Universitet273
4Aalborg Universitet107
5Rigshospitalet92
6Syddansk Universitet90
7Aarhus Universitetshospital85
8University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences76
9Niels Bohr Institute37
10Odense Universitetshospital34

All 1,795 scientists

Single-year list2021

The first 100 are free to browse.

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Rank in Denmark	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	88	NJ Nørskov, Jens K.	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Physical Chemistry	Rank 2
2	149	SB Sovacool, Benjamin K.	Aarhus Universitet	Energy	Rank 4
3	167	SO Sigmund, Ole	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Design Practice & Management	Rank 1
4	178	LG Lip, Gregory Y.H.	Aalborg Universitet	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 9
5	257	GK Govindan, Kannan	Syddansk Universitet	Operations Research	Rank 2
6	279	PB Pedersen, Bente Klarlund	Københavns Universitet	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 5
7	359	BF Blaabjerg, Frede	Aalborg Universitet	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 1
8	384	NB Nordestgaard, Børge G.	Amtssygehuset i Gentofte	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 15
9	387	CD Canfield, Donald E.	Syddansk Universitet	Geochemistry & Geophysics	Rank 2
10	480	KH Kehlet, Henrik	Rigshospitalet	Anesthesiology	Rank 1
11	692	Guerrero, Josep M.	Aalborg Universitet	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 3
12	753	HJ Holst, Jens Juul	University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 13
13	927	BF Bäckhed, Fredrik	University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 17
14	1,301	FN Foss, Nicolai J.	Copenhagen Business School	Business & Management	Rank 31
15	1,328	LH Lund, Henrik	Aalborg Universitet	Energy	Rank 31
16	1,455	KF Krebs, Frederik C.	Elitescience	Applied Physics	Rank 44
17	1,525	TJ Thøgersen, John	Aarhus Universitet	Marketing	Rank 7
18	1,562	NM Nedergaard, Maiken	University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 99
19	1,703	BR Bro, Rasmus	Københavns Universitet	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 8
20	1,978	GP Gøtzsche, Peter C.	Institute for Scientific Freedom	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 34
21	1,994	JB Jørgensen, Bo Barker	Aarhus Universitet	Microbiology	Rank 35
22	2,071	DM Davies, Michael J.	Panum Institute	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 50
23	2,258	GK Grunert, Klaus G.	Aarhus Universitet	Food Science	Rank 12
24	2,408	AF Aarestrup, Frank M.	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Microbiology	Rank 45
25	2,452	PC Pedersen, Carsten B.	Aarhus Universitet	Psychiatry	Rank 64
26	2,686	PP Petersen, Poul Erik	Københavns Universitet	Dentistry	Rank 3
27	2,844	AA Astrup, A.	Københavns Universitet	Nutrition & Dietetics	Rank 18
28	2,852	Svenning, Jens Christian	Aarhus Universitet	Ecology	Rank 96
29	2,923	OJ Olesen, Jes	Københavns Universitet	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 185
30	2,985	JS Johansen, Søren	Aarhus Universitet	Econometrics	Rank 11
31	3,205	TV Tvergaard, Viggo	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 39
32	3,214	MS Mussatto, Solange I.	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Biotechnology	Rank 10
33	3,239	RE Roos, Ewa M.	Syddansk Universitet	Arthritis & Rheumatology	Rank 21
34	3,439	GP Grandjean, Philippe	Syddansk Universitet	Toxicology	Rank 14
35	3,899	JG Jemec, Gregor	Sjællands Universitetshospital	Dermatology & Venereal Diseases	Rank 7
36	3,932	SH Sørensen, Henrik Toft	Aarhus Universitetshospital	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 61
37	4,264	HN Høiby, Niels	Rigshospitalet	Microbiology	Rank 88
38	4,294	NR Näätänen, Risto	Aarhus Universitet	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 278
39	4,343	BM Bendsøe, Martin P.	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Design Practice & Management	Rank 2
40	4,506	TK Thygesen, Kristian	Aarhus Universitetshospital	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 144
41	4,693	DT Dragicevic, Tomislav	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 15
42	4,888	OJ Overgaard, Jens	Aarhus Universitetshospital	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 167
43	4,959	VP Vestergaard, Peter	Aalborg Universitetshospital	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 99
44	5,164	NM Nordentoft, Merete	Copenhagen University Hospital	Psychiatry	Rank 129
45	5,460	Bjarnsholt, Thomas	Copenhagen University Hospital	Microbiology	Rank 112
46	5,918	BJ Bangsbo, Jens	Københavns Universitet	Physiology	Rank 9
47	6,000	MH Madsen, Henrik	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Energy	Rank 122
48	6,188	VP Vanhoutte, Paul M.	Syddansk Universitet	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 198
49	6,298	FR Feyereisen, René	Københavns Universitet	Entomology	Rank 5
50	6,375	BP Bech, Per	Københavns Universitet	Psychiatry	Rank 157
51	6,487	AI Angelidaki, Irini	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Biotechnology	Rank 20
52	6,541	BS Bozhevolnyi, Sergey I.	Syddansk Universitet	Optics	Rank 37
53	6,565	MP Mortensen, Preben Bo	Aarhus Universitet	Psychiatry	Rank 166
54	6,635	BH Brix, Hans	Aarhus Universitet	Environmental Engineering	Rank 36
55	6,699	BN Borregaard, Niels	Rigshospitalet	Immunology	Rank 177
56	6,792	KM Kjær, Michael	Bispebjerg Hospital	Physiology	Rank 10
57	6,797	FN Finnerup, Nanna Brix	Aarhus Universitet	Anesthesiology	Rank 18
58	6,963	FJ Frisvad, Jens C.	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Microbiology	Rank 145
59	6,984	SN Skakkebæk, Niels E.	Københavns Universitet	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 24
60	7,107	BO Barndorff-Nielsen, Ole E.	Aarhus Universitet	Statistics & Probability	Rank 56
61	7,110	VJ Vaupel, James W.	Syddansk Universitet	Demography	Rank 3
62	7,179	KL Kessing, Lars V.	University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences	Psychiatry	Rank 172
63	7,231	PA Peterson, Andrew A.	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Physical Chemistry	Rank 39
64	7,297	PP Pinson, Pierre	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Energy	Rank 146
65	7,298	WJ Weiner, Jacob	Københavns Universitet	Ecology	Rank 198
66	7,336	AM Arendrup, Maiken Cavling	Københavns Universitet	Microbiology	Rank 156
67	7,354	JS Jennings, Simon	International Council for the Exploration of the Sea	Fisheries	Rank 8
68	7,416	BC Bjørnskov, Christian	Aarhus Universitet	Economics	Rank 135
69	7,456	AL Arendt-Nielsen, Lars	Aalborg Universitet	Anesthesiology	Rank 22
70	7,506	AJ Andreasen, Jens O.	Copenhagen University Hospital	Dentistry	Rank 26
71	7,510	RJ Rossmeisl, Jan	Københavns Universitet	Chemical Physics	Rank 140
72	7,868	GH Gundersen, Hans Jørgen G.	Aarhus Universitet	Microscopy	Rank 2
73	7,894	JF Jensen, Frank	Aarhus Universitet	Chemical Physics	Rank 152
74	8,045	CT Christensen, Thomas H.	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Environmental Sciences	Rank 83
75	8,058	TB Thamdrup, Bo	Syddansk Universitet	Marine Biology & Hydrobiology	Rank 46
76	8,067	KA Krogh, Anders	Københavns Universitet	Bioinformatics	Rank 27
77	8,137	RJ Rostrup-Nielsen, J. R.	Haldor Topsoe A/S	Physical Chemistry	Rank 42
78	8,243	CZ Chen, Z.	Aalborg Universitet	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 25
79	8,579	DJ Dyre, Jeppe C.	Roskilde Universitet	Chemical Physics	Rank 170
80	8,585	TJ Thyssen, Jacob P.	Københavns Universitet	Dermatology & Venereal Diseases	Rank 23
81	8,675	WB Weidema, Bo	Aalborg Universitet	Environmental Sciences	Rank 91
82	8,813	KT Kiørboe, Thomas	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Marine Biology & Hydrobiology	Rank 48
83	9,046	HB Hammer, Bjørk	Aarhus Universitet	Chemical Physics	Rank 178
84	9,065	HM Hauschild, Michael	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Environmental Sciences	Rank 96
85	9,127	TK Thygesen, Kristian S.	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Applied Physics	Rank 180
86	9,161	OD Otzen, Daniel Erik	Aarhus Universitet	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 205
87	9,270	NH Nielsen, Henrik	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Bioinformatics	Rank 30
88	9,332	KD Kannan, Devika	Syddansk Universitet	Environmental Sciences	Rank 99
89	9,355	LK Laursen, Keld	Copenhagen Business School	Business & Management	Rank 225
90	9,406	JT Jensen, T. S.	Aarhus Universitet	Anesthesiology	Rank 27
91	9,589	JK Jørgensen, Karl Anker	Aarhus Universitet	Organic Chemistry	Rank 143
92	9,918	PD Pisinger, David	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Operations Research	Rank 47
93	9,992	NP Nielsen, Per H.	Aalborg Universitet	Microbiology	Rank 219
94	10,040	SB Saltin, Bengt	Københavns Universitet	Physiology	Rank 18
95	10,186	HT Hansen, Thomas Birkballe	Aarhus Universitet	Developmental Biology	Rank 358
96	10,324	GP Glarborg, Peter	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet	Energy	Rank 205
97	10,359	OJ Olesen, Jes	Københavns Universitet	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 631
98	10,382	WP Wolkoff, Peder	Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø	Building & Construction	Rank 54
99	10,488	BK Bach Knudsen, Knud Erik	Aarhus Universitet	Dairy & Animal Science	Rank 14
100	10,538	BJ Bonde, Jens Peter	Bispebjerg Hospital	Environmental & Occupational Health	Rank 3
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Every year since 2020Single Year and Career Data.

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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2021

Switzerland3,016 scientistsin 2021

South Korea2,715 scientistsin 2021

Sweden2,438 scientistsin 2021

Belgium1,780 scientistsin 2021

Iran1,701 scientistsin 2021

Israel1,514 scientistsin 2021

Explore other countries

Single-year list2021

United Kingdom15,844 scientistsin 2021

Norway1,100 scientistsin 2021

Finland1,016 scientistsin 2021

Ireland710 scientistsin 2021

Estonia63 scientistsin 2021

Iceland51 scientistsin 2021

All countries on the world map

Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Denmark are in the 2021 Stanford Top 2% list?

1,795 scientists affiliated with Denmark are on the 2021 single-year list, and 1,808 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2021 single-year list, Københavns Universitet has the most listed scientists from Denmark, with 341. It is followed by Danmarks Tekniske Universitet with 301.

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

On the single-year list, Denmark went from 1,515 scientists in 2020 to 1,795 in 2021, a change of +18.5%.

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.