OECD bibliometric data has been updated and now includes preliminary data for 2020. The indicators are based on Scopus Custom Data, Elsevier, Version 5.2021. Find out more about OECD work on scientometrics and bibliometrics at https://oe.cd/scientometrics

1. ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHING
ACTIVITY – KEY FINDINGS
DECEMBER 2021
oe.cd/scientometrics
STI.Scientometrics@oecd.org

2. • The OECD bibliometric data was updated and now includes
preliminary data for 2020. The indicators are based on Scopus
Custom Data, Elsevier, Version 5.2021.
• The presentation relies on the STI Scoreboard statistical platform
where the data have been updated.
Highlights of the latest bibliometric data

3. • Outline:
– Trends in scientific production
– Trends in scientific excellence, a look at the top-cited publications,
to monitor the “implied” quality of the output
– Trends in international collaboration
– A closer look at selected scientific fields of science – COVID-19
related, environment/energy
– International mobility
• Note: URL links are included under the figures.
Highlights of the latest bibliometric data

4. The total number of Scopus indexed scientific documents
continued to grow, including in 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=FPUBS_NBFRAC&v=3&t=2010,2020&s=CHN,EU27_2020,USA

5. Total publications as a share of world total, 2010 and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=FPUBS_X_WLD&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=4

6. Also a global realignment in production of top-cited science
Scientific excellence, share of world’s highly cited documents
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=TOP10_X_WLD&v=3&t=2010,2020&s=CHN,EU27_2020,USA&r=4
EU27
CHN and USA on par

7. Scientific excellence, share of world, 2010 and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=TOP10_X_WLD&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=4

8. Convergence in domestic “average” scientific excellence
Domestic documents in global top-10%-cited as % of all domestic documents
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=TOP10_X&v=3&t=2006,2020&s=CHN,EU27_2020,USA

9. Scientific excellence, domestic, OECD, 2010 and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=TOP10_X&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=3
Global benchmark 10%

10. International collaboration, OECD, 2010 and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=INTL_X&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=3

11. PERSPECTIVES ON COVID-19
RESEARCH OUTPUT

12. COVID-19 visible in research output on Infectious Diseases
and Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-
StatTrends.html?i=FPUBS_2725_NBFRAC&v=3&t=2010,2020&s=CHN,EU27_2020,USA
=

13. Infectious Diseases, domestic “excellence”, 2010 and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=TOP10_2725_X&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=4
Significant increase in citation rates of
science output from countries at
forefront of pandemic diffusion

14. PERSPECTIVES ON LONG TERM
CHALLENGES

15. Research on Environmental Science, number of publications,
2010 and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=FPUBS_23_NBFRAC&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=4

16. Research on Environmental Science, domestic excellence, 2010
and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=TOP10_23_X&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=4

17. Research on Energy, number of publications, 2010 and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=FPUBS_21_NBFRAC&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=4

18. Research on Energy, domestic excellence, 2010 and 2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=TOP10_21_X&v=6&t=2010,2020&r=4

19. MOBILITY

20. International mobility : 2015-2020
Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-StatTrends.html?i=ANNUAL_FLOWS_NB&v=6&t=2015,2020&r=4

21. Source: https://stip.oecd.org/stats/SB-
StatTrends.html?i=ANNUAL_FLOWS_NB&v=3&t=2011,2020&s=CHN,EU27_2020,OECD,USA
Net international mobility over time
No clear role for COVID yet appreciable for 2020