Malaysia's Top 2% Scientists 2025
Malaysia has 879 scientists on the 2025 single-year Top 2% list, up 14.3% from 769 in 2024. That places Malaysia 38th in the world by number of listed scientists. Universiti Malaya has the most listed scientists (116), followed by Universiti Putra Malaysia (83).
Scientists in Malaysia on the list, by year
The single-year count has more than doubled since 2020.
Show the numbers
| Year | Single Year | Change | Career Data | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 387 | 163 | ||
| 2021 | 549 | +41.9% | 234 | +43.6% |
| 2022 | 622 | +13.3% | 274 | +17.1% |
| 2023 | 716 | +15.1% | 320 | +16.8% |
| 2024 | 769 | +7.4% | 368 | +15.0% |
| 2025 | 879 | +14.3% | 460 | +25.0% |
Top 10 institutes in Malaysia
By number of listed scientists
Show the list
- 1Universiti Malaya116
- 2Universiti Putra Malaysia83
- 3Universiti Sains Malaysia78
- 4Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia68
- 5Universiti Teknologi Malaysia59
- 6Sunway University35
- 7Monash University Malaysia33
- 8Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah28
- 9Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS26
- 10Universiti Malaysia Terengganu20
All 879 scientists
| Rank in Malaysia | World rank | Scientist | Institute | Sub-field | Rank in sub-field |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 195 | Sunway University | Marketing | Rank 5 | |
| 2 | 760 | Sunway University | Energy | Rank 21 | |
| 3 | 1,551 | Taylor's University Malaysia | Environmental Sciences | Rank 34 | |
| 4 | 2,483 |
CM
|
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu | Biotechnology | Rank 7 |
| 5 | 4,212 | UCSI University | Business & Management | Rank 132 | |
| 6 | 4,433 | Universiti Teknologi MARA | Polymers | Rank 22 | |
| 7 | 4,497 | Universiti Putra Malaysia | Materials | Rank 81 | |
| 8 | 4,638 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences | Rank 82 | |
| 9 | 4,713 | Multimedia University | Energy | Rank 127 | |
| 10 | 5,046 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Chemical Engineering | Rank 21 | |
| 11 | 5,173 | Universiti Utara Malaysia | Business & Management | Rank 161 | |
| 12 | 5,310 | Universiti Malaya | Applied Physics | Rank 127 | |
| 13 | 5,616 | Sunway University | Electrical & Electronic Engineering | Rank 19 | |
| 14 | 5,638 | Sunway University | Environmental Sciences | Rank 115 | |
| 15 | 5,773 | Universiti Malaysia Terengganu | Environmental Sciences | Rank 120 | |
| 16 | 6,021 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Business & Management | Rank 183 | |
| 17 | 6,111 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia | Mechanical Engineering & Transports | Rank 60 | |
| 18 | 6,593 | Universiti Putra Malaysia | Education | Rank 77 | |
| 19 | 8,675 |
FK
|
Universiti Sains Malaysia | Industrial Engineering & Automation | Rank 94 |
| 20 | 9,478 | Universiti Tenaga Nasional | Energy | Rank 252 | |
| 21 | 10,077 | Sunway University | Energy | Rank 272 | |
| 22 | 10,277 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Polymers | Rank 67 | |
| 23 | 10,593 | Universiti Malaysia Terengganu | Energy | Rank 281 | |
| 24 | 11,129 | Universiti Malaya | Public Health | Rank 109 | |
| 25 | 12,865 | Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS | Energy | Rank 343 | |
| 26 | 13,713 | Sunway University | Energy | Rank 379 | |
| 27 | 13,940 | Multimedia University | Environmental Sciences | Rank 304 | |
| 28 | 14,426 | Sunway University | Environmental Sciences | Rank 316 | |
| 29 | 14,501 | UCSI University | Marketing | Rank 99 | |
| 30 | 14,727 | Curtin University, Malaysia | Environmental Sciences | Rank 327 | |
| 31 | 15,233 | Universiti Malaysia Perlis | Analytical Chemistry | Rank 64 | |
| 32 | 15,387 | Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah | Education | Rank 204 | |
| 33 | 15,579 |
RS
|
Universiti Malaya | Energy | Rank 431 |
| 34 | 15,969 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Economics | Rank 253 | |
| 35 | 16,008 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia | Networking & Telecommunications | Rank 168 | |
| 36 | 16,635 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Polymers | Rank 117 | |
| 37 | 17,177 | Faculty of Medicine, UKM | Nutrition & Dietetics | Rank 103 | |
| 38 | 17,429 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Environmental Sciences | Rank 390 | |
| 39 | 17,734 | Universiti Putra Malaysia | Economics | Rank 288 | |
| 40 | 17,774 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia | Energy | Rank 493 | |
| 41 | 17,997 | Sunway University | Marketing | Rank 126 | |
| 42 | 18,013 | Universiti Malaya | Chemical Engineering | Rank 106 | |
| 43 | 18,255 |
SM
Samykano, M. A/l
|
Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah | Energy | Rank 508 |
| 44 | 18,485 |
RS
|
Universiti Malaya | Materials | Rank 342 |
| 45 | 18,973 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Chemical Engineering | Rank 119 | |
| 46 | 19,192 | Universiti Putra Malaysia | Energy | Rank 529 | |
| 47 | 19,353 | UCSI University | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 924 | |
| 48 | 19,978 | Monash University Malaysia | Food Science | Rank 190 | |
| 49 | 20,265 | Taylor's University Malaysia | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 951 | |
| 50 | 22,013 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 1,031 | |
| 51 | 22,204 | Universiti Malaya | Energy | Rank 606 | |
| 52 | 22,217 |
SN
|
Universiti Putra Malaysia | Polymers | Rank 167 |
| 53 | 22,231 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Plant Biology & Botany | Rank 293 | |
| 54 | 22,283 | UKM-Graduate School of Business | Business & Management | Rank 625 | |
| 55 | 22,404 |
GP
|
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Chemical Engineering | Rank 147 |
| 56 | 22,598 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia | Plant Biology & Botany | Rank 301 | |
| 57 | 24,607 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia | Networking & Telecommunications | Rank 260 | |
| 58 | 24,814 | Sunway University | Mechanical Engineering & Transports | Rank 243 | |
| 59 | 25,188 |
LW
|
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Chemical Engineering | Rank 166 |
| 60 | 25,363 |
MK
|
Sunway University | Building & Construction | Rank 192 |
| 61 | 25,669 | National Defense University of Malaysia | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Rank 129 | |
| 62 | 26,067 | Universiti Malaya | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 1,202 | |
| 63 | 26,169 | Universiti Malaya | Gastroenterology & Hepatology | Rank 302 | |
| 64 | 26,212 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Polymers | Rank 198 | |
| 65 | 26,860 |
OW
|
Universiti Sains Malaysia | Chemical Engineering | Rank 179 |
| 66 | 27,162 | Asian Institute of Medicine, Science & Technology | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Rank 142 | |
| 67 | 27,306 | International Medical University | General & Internal Medicine | Rank 390 | |
| 68 | 28,001 | Universiti Malaysia Terengganu | Business & Management | Rank 770 | |
| 69 | 28,187 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Energy | Rank 768 | |
| 70 | 28,403 | Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah | Energy | Rank 777 | |
| 71 | 28,665 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Biotechnology | Rank 104 | |
| 72 | 29,175 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Polymers | Rank 233 | |
| 73 | 29,878 | UCSI University | Business & Management | Rank 821 | |
| 74 | 29,980 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Food Science | Rank 302 | |
| 75 | 30,453 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Food Science | Rank 313 | |
| 76 | 30,463 | Monash University Malaysia | General & Internal Medicine | Rank 438 | |
| 77 | 31,642 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur | Business & Management | Rank 854 | |
| 78 | 31,658 | Sarawak General Hospital | General & Internal Medicine | Rank 447 | |
| 79 | 31,825 | Universiti Malaya | Business & Management | Rank 857 | |
| 80 | 31,991 | Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah | Mechanical Engineering & Transports | Rank 315 | |
| 81 | 32,710 | Universiti Malaysia Terengganu | Energy | Rank 899 | |
| 82 | 32,748 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 1,446 | |
| 83 | 32,936 | Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah | Energy | Rank 905 | |
| 84 | 33,755 | Taylor's University Malaysia | Marketing | Rank 215 | |
| 85 | 33,991 | Sunway University | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 1,558 | |
| 86 | 34,212 | Sunway University | Environmental Sciences | Rank 753 | |
| 87 | 34,406 | Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation | General Physics | Rank 225 | |
| 88 | 34,738 | Sunway University | Nuclear & Particle Physics | Rank 473 | |
| 89 | 34,909 | Taylor's University Malaysia | Environmental Sciences | Rank 780 | |
| 90 | 34,938 | International Medical University | General & Internal Medicine | Rank 488 | |
| 91 | 35,936 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Polymers | Rank 298 | |
| 92 | 35,977 | Universiti Malaysia Sabah | Business & Management | Rank 957 | |
| 93 | 36,567 | Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus | Chemical Engineering | Rank 255 | |
| 94 | 37,287 | Sunway University | Environmental Sciences | Rank 829 | |
| 95 | 37,385 | Sunway University | Energy | Rank 1,033 | |
| 96 | 37,621 |
KA
|
Universiti Sains Malaysia | Food Science | Rank 398 |
| 97 | 37,766 | Universiti Putra Malaysia | Food Science | Rank 400 | |
| 98 | 37,796 | Universiti Malaya | Energy | Rank 1,046 | |
| 99 | 37,894 | Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS | Energy | Rank 1,048 | |
| 100 | 37,958 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Environmental Engineering | Rank 199 | |
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See all 879 scientists in Malaysia
You are seeing the first 100. 779 more are on the 2025 single-year list.
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Frequently asked questions
How many scientists from Malaysia are in the 2025 Stanford Top 2% list?
879 scientists affiliated with Malaysia are on the 2025 single-year list, and 460 are on the career-long list.
Which institute in Malaysia has the most Top 2% scientists?
On the 2025 single-year list, Universiti Malaya has the most listed scientists from Malaysia, with 116. It is followed by Universiti Putra Malaysia with 83.
How has the number of Top 2% scientists in Malaysia changed since 2020?
On the single-year list, Malaysia went from 387 scientists in 2020 to 879 in 2025, a change of +127.1%.
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.