What China’s rise in chemistry means for the rest of the world
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A researcher holds a green photochemical reaction under UV light.Credit: Souvik Sarkar Photography
China’s performance as the leading country for chemistry research in the Nature Index is remarkable. Since 2015, it has increased its output in the subject by almost 350%, reaching a Share of more than 19,500 in the latest data, a contribution that is higher than all other top 50 countries combined. Among China’s institutions, the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei — ranked second in the subject after the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing — now has a higher chemistry Share (536) than Spain (491) and Canada (470), the 9th and 10th ranked countries.
Nature Index 2026 Chemistry