China surpasses US in number of top scientists for the first time, new report shows

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China has overtaken the United States for the first time in the number of high-level science and technology experts, according to a new report released by Shenzhen-based data firm Dongbi Data on January 11.

The report, which analysed data from 2020 to 2024, shows a shift in the global distribution of leading scientists.

The number of top scientists in China rose from 18,805 in 2020 to 32,511 in 2024, increasing its share of the global talent pool from 17% to 28%.

Meanwhile, the number of leading scientists in the United States declined from 36,599 in 2020 to 31,781 in 2024, with the country’s share of the global pool dropping from nearly 33% to 27%.

The study defines a “high-level science and technology talent” as any researcher who has published influential papers in leading international academic journals.

To compile the data, the team analyzed more than 40,000 highly cited papers published between 2020 and 2024 in 129 top journals across a range of scientific disciplines.

This shift highlights the growing prominence of China in global scientific research, while the United States has seen a gradual decline in the number of its leading scientists.

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