Rising countries in the Top 2% Scientists list: China, India, and Italy 2020–2026
From Directory countries_by_year data, India grew about 200% and China about 180% in listed scholars between 2020 and 2026, while the United States grew about 23%.
Which countries grew fastest in Top 2% listings from 2020 to 2026?
Direct answer: Among large cohorts tracked in ABS Nexora’s countries_by_year series, India (~+200%, 2,310 → 6,940) and China (~+180%, 12,757 → 35,681) show the steepest growth from edition year 2020 to 2026. Italy (~+80%) also rose sharply. The United States remained largest (59,725 → 73,459, about +23%).
Growth rates highlight momentum; absolute counts still show who dominates the list.
How did China, India, and the USA move year by year?
| Country | 2020 | 2026 | Change | Approx. growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 12,757 | 35,681 | +22,924 | ~+180% |
| India | 2,310 | 6,940 | +4,630 | ~+200% |
| Italy | 4,745 | 8,537 | +3,792 | ~+80% |
| Australia | 6,083 | 8,934 | +2,851 | ~+47% |
| Germany | 8,174 | 10,933 | +2,759 | ~+34% |
| United Kingdom | 13,795 | 18,269 | +4,474 | ~+32% |
| United States | 59,725 | 73,459 | +13,734 | ~+23% |
| Canada | 6,598 | 8,510 | +1,912 | ~+29% |
| France | 4,500 | 5,911 | +1,411 | ~+31% |
| Japan | 4,478 | 5,731 | +1,253 | ~+28% |
What changed most recently (2025 → 2026)?
In the latest year-to-year step:
- China: 30,564 → 35,681 (+5,117, ~+17%)
- India: 6,226 → 6,940 (+714, ~+11%)
- Italy: 7,992 → 8,537 (+545, ~+7%)
- United States: 72,868 → 73,459 (+591, ~+1%)
How should universities and journalists use growth stats?
- Pair % growth with absolute counts (China’s gain is huge in both).
- Compare the same listing type (single-year vs career).
- Check field mix on country profiles — growth may concentrate in Engineering or Clinical Medicine.
- Cite ABS Nexora analytics date/edition when publishing claims.
Related reading and tools
FAQ
Which country grew fastest from 2020 to 2026? Among major cohorts in the Directory timeline, India (~+200%) and China (~+180%) lead on percentage growth; China leads on absolute gain (+22,924 listed scholars).
Did the United States still grow? Yes — from 59,725 (2020) to 73,459 (2026), about +23%, remaining #1 in absolute size.
Where does Italy rank after its rise? Italy has 8,537 listed scholars in the 2026 single-year snapshot (6th among top countries in this pull).
Are growth rates the same as citation impact? No. Growth is a count change. Use average citations, ranks, and field pages for impact context.
How do I reproduce these numbers? Use ABS Nexora Analytics country trends / countries_by_year for editions 2020–2026.