New Zealand's Top 2% Scientists 2025
New Zealand has 954 scientists on the 2025 single-year Top 2% list, up 0.7% from 947 in 2024. That places New Zealand 35th in the world by number of listed scientists, down 2 places. The University of Auckland has the most listed scientists (252), followed by University of Otago (122).
Scientists in New Zealand on the list, by year
The single-year count has grown 26% since 2020.
Show the numbers
| Year | Single Year | Change | Career Data | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 756 | 803 | ||
| 2021 | 901 | +19.2% | 974 | +21.3% |
| 2022 | 905 | +0.4% | 1,029 | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 932 | +3.0% | 1,076 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 947 | +1.6% | 1,132 | +5.2% |
| 2025 | 954 | +0.7% | 1,167 | +3.1% |
Top 10 institutes in New Zealand
By number of listed scientists
Show the list
- 1The University of Auckland252
- 2University of Otago122
- 3Victoria University of Wellington62
- 4University of Canterbury60
- 5Massey University54
- 6The University of Waikato41
- 7Auckland University of Technology34
- 8University of Otago, Christchurch25
- 9Plant & Food Research, New Zealand19
- 10Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences17
All 954 scientists
| Rank in New Zealand | World rank | Scientist | Institute | Sub-field | Rank in sub-field |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 140 | The University of Auckland | Gender Studies | Rank 1 | |
| 2 | 183 | The University of Auckland | Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences | Rank 1 | |
| 3 | 199 | University of Canterbury | Sport, Leisure & Tourism | Rank 2 | |
| 4 | 207 | Auckland University of Technology | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 11 | |
| 5 | 367 |
ZF
|
The University of Auckland | Food Science | Rank 3 |
| 6 | 857 | Massey University Auckland | Ecology | Rank 19 | |
| 7 | 1,036 | The University of Auckland | Econometrics | Rank 8 | |
| 8 | 1,153 |
VM
|
Victoria University of Wellington | Nuclear & Particle Physics | Rank 12 |
| 9 | 1,169 | Lincoln University | Ecology | Rank 27 | |
| 10 | 1,483 | Independent Scientist | Energy | Rank 42 | |
| 11 | 1,578 | University of Otago, Christchurch | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Rank 21 | |
| 12 | 1,626 | The University of Auckland | Industrial Engineering & Automation | Rank 14 | |
| 13 | 1,935 | University of Otago | Mycology & Parasitology | Rank 3 | |
| 14 | 3,009 | University of Otago | Geochemistry & Geophysics | Rank 36 | |
| 15 | 3,706 |
RI
|
The University of Auckland | Endocrinology & Metabolism | Rank 57 |
| 16 | 4,587 |
ND
|
The University of Auckland | Mechanical Engineering & Transports | Rank 46 |
| 17 | 5,023 | Massey University | Food Science | Rank 33 | |
| 18 | 5,049 | The University of Auckland | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 262 | |
| 19 | 5,423 | Faculty of Science | Statistics & Probability | Rank 39 | |
| 20 | 5,970 | Liggins Institute | Endocrinology & Metabolism | Rank 100 | |
| 21 | 6,061 | Auckland City Hospital | Cardiovascular System & Hematology | Rank 179 | |
| 22 | 6,137 |
ZD
|
University of Canterbury | Energy | Rank 161 |
| 23 | 6,187 | The University of Auckland | Public Health | Rank 58 | |
| 24 | 6,260 | The University of Waikato | Social Psychology | Rank 164 | |
| 25 | 6,801 | Massey University | Veterinary Sciences | Rank 1 | |
| 26 | 6,907 | The University of Auckland | Industrial Engineering & Automation | Rank 78 | |
| 27 | 7,060 | Lincoln University | Finance | Rank 40 | |
| 28 | 7,245 | The University of Auckland | Languages & Linguistics | Rank 44 | |
| 29 | 7,427 | University of Otago | Microbiology | Rank 112 | |
| 30 | 7,658 | The University of Auckland | Social Psychology | Rank 187 | |
| 31 | 7,741 | Massey University | Sport, Leisure & Tourism | Rank 41 | |
| 32 | 8,408 | The University of Auckland | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 294 | |
| 33 | 9,129 | The University of Auckland | Numerical & Computational Mathematics | Rank 12 | |
| 34 | 9,424 | The University of Auckland | General & Internal Medicine | Rank 165 | |
| 35 | 9,506 |
HA
|
Massey University Auckland | Accounting | Rank 23 |
| 36 | 9,709 | Manukau Institute of Technology | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 473 | |
| 37 | 9,834 | The University of Auckland | Education | Rank 137 | |
| 38 | 9,904 | University of Otago | Food Science | Rank 86 | |
| 39 | 10,007 | The University of Auckland | Evolutionary Biology | Rank 77 | |
| 40 | 10,024 | The University of Auckland Business School | Business & Management | Rank 294 | |
| 41 | 10,146 | Massey University | Communication & Media Studies | Rank 44 | |
| 42 | 10,227 |
KM
|
The University of Auckland | Environmental Sciences | Rank 224 |
| 43 | 10,639 | The University of Auckland | Social Psychology | Rank 236 | |
| 44 | 10,649 | University of Canterbury | Strategic, Defence & Security Studies | Rank 16 | |
| 45 | 10,651 |
DL
|
AgResearch Grasslands | Food Science | Rank 96 |
| 46 | 10,800 | The University of Auckland | Experimental Psychology | Rank 178 | |
| 47 | 10,886 | University of Otago | Dentistry | Rank 31 | |
| 48 | 11,122 |
WT
|
Victoria University of Wellington | Criminology | Rank 16 |
| 49 | 11,164 | The University of Auckland | Social Psychology | Rank 245 | |
| 50 | 11,489 | The University of Auckland | General & Internal Medicine | Rank 186 | |
| 51 | 11,710 | The University of Auckland | Arthritis & Rheumatology | Rank 69 | |
| 52 | 11,809 | Health and Environment International Trust | Toxicology | Rank 39 | |
| 53 | 11,981 | HFAT Private Technical Co. Ltd. | Energy | Rank 317 | |
| 54 | 12,331 | Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research | Agronomy & Agriculture | Rank 78 | |
| 55 | 12,768 | Massey University | Dairy & Animal Science | Rank 18 | |
| 56 | 12,903 | The University of Auckland | Environmental Engineering | Rank 62 | |
| 57 | 13,035 | The University of Waikato | Sport, Leisure & Tourism | Rank 73 | |
| 58 | 13,234 | The University of Auckland | Energy | Rank 357 | |
| 59 | 13,367 | School of Medicine | Gastroenterology & Hepatology | Rank 157 | |
| 60 | 13,858 | The University of Auckland | Languages & Linguistics | Rank 79 | |
| 61 | 13,873 | AgResearch Grasslands | Microbiology | Rank 232 | |
| 62 | 13,964 | The University of Waikato | Materials | Rank 260 | |
| 63 | 14,745 | University of Otago, Christchurch | Developmental & Child Psychology | Rank 124 | |
| 64 | 14,759 | Victoria University of Wellington | Social Psychology | Rank 304 | |
| 65 | 14,897 | The University of Auckland | Marketing | Rank 104 | |
| 66 | 16,699 | University of Otago | Education | Rank 218 | |
| 67 | 16,911 | University of Otago | Psychiatry | Rank 332 | |
| 68 | 16,988 | The University of Auckland | Education | Rank 222 | |
| 69 | 17,224 | Massey University | Food Science | Rank 159 | |
| 70 | 17,235 | The University of Auckland | Endocrinology & Metabolism | Rank 266 | |
| 71 | 17,253 | The University of Auckland | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 820 | |
| 72 | 17,404 | University of Canterbury | Industrial Engineering & Automation | Rank 192 | |
| 73 | 17,891 | The University of Auckland Business School | Accounting | Rank 47 | |
| 74 | 18,156 | Victoria University of Wellington | Languages & Linguistics | Rank 104 | |
| 75 | 18,490 | University of Otago | Experimental Psychology | Rank 276 | |
| 76 | 18,513 | The University of Auckland | Strategic, Defence & Security Studies | Rank 31 | |
| 77 | 18,618 | The University of Auckland | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 865 | |
| 78 | 18,887 | Victoria University of Wellington | Social Psychology | Rank 374 | |
| 79 | 19,007 | Proteus | Ecology | Rank 412 | |
| 80 | 19,397 | The University of Auckland | Environmental Sciences | Rank 425 | |
| 81 | 19,444 | The University of Auckland | Geography | Rank 93 | |
| 82 | 19,492 | University of Canterbury | Agronomy & Agriculture | Rank 132 | |
| 83 | 19,535 | Auckland University of Technology | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 929 | |
| 84 | 20,059 | GNS Science | Geochemistry & Geophysics | Rank 295 | |
| 85 | 20,137 | The University of Auckland Business School | Industrial Relations | Rank 3 | |
| 86 | 20,378 |
XB
|
Victoria University of Wellington | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 959 |
| 87 | 20,563 |
PS
|
University of Canterbury | Energy | Rank 563 |
| 88 | 20,934 | Pictor Pvt. Ltd. | Analytical Chemistry | Rank 91 | |
| 89 | 21,018 | University of Otago | Clinical Psychology | Rank 103 | |
| 90 | 21,184 | The University of Auckland | Experimental Psychology | Rank 308 | |
| 91 | 21,254 | Victoria University of Wellington | Accounting | Rank 53 | |
| 92 | 21,463 | University of Otago | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 998 | |
| 93 | 22,084 |
MW
|
Lincoln University | Economics | Rank 331 |
| 94 | 22,225 | The University of Auckland | General & Internal Medicine | Rank 319 | |
| 95 | 22,454 | The University of Auckland | Gastroenterology & Hepatology | Rank 263 | |
| 96 | 22,499 |
LY
|
The University of Auckland | Industrial Engineering & Automation | Rank 238 |
| 97 | 22,929 | Massey University | Education | Rank 280 | |
| 98 | 23,031 | The University of Waikato | Sport, Leisure & Tourism | Rank 130 | |
| 99 | 23,107 | The University of Waikato | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 1,078 | |
| 100 | 23,304 | Massey University | Dairy & Animal Science | Rank 35 | |
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See all 954 scientists in New Zealand
You are seeing the first 100. 854 more are on the 2025 single-year list.
Countries with a similar count
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Frequently asked questions
How many scientists from New Zealand are in the 2025 Stanford Top 2% list?
954 scientists affiliated with New Zealand are on the 2025 single-year list, and 1,167 are on the career-long list.
Which institute in New Zealand has the most Top 2% scientists?
On the 2025 single-year list, The University of Auckland has the most listed scientists from New Zealand, with 252. It is followed by University of Otago with 122.
How has the number of Top 2% scientists in New Zealand changed since 2020?
On the single-year list, New Zealand went from 756 scientists in 2020 to 954 in 2025, a change of +26.2%.
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.