The Impact Factor (IF) is one of the most important indicators used to evaluate the quality of research journals.
Every year, Clarivate releases the Journal Citation Report (JCR). The JCR contains important information about academic journals, including journal citations, Quartile, and impact factors. The latest JCR was released in June 2025.
Journals with higher impact factors are considered more prestigious because their research is widely cited.
In this blog post, we list the Top 10 journals in the world based on recent JCR data.
Top 10 Journals by Impact Factor (2026)
| Rank | Journal Name | Impact Factor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians | 232.4 |
| 2 | Nature Reviews Microbiology | 103.3 |
| 3 | Nature Reviews Drug Discovery | 101.8 |
| 4 | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology | 90.2 |
| 5 | Kidney International Supplements | 89.6 |
| 6 | The Lancet | 88.5 |
| 7 | Nature Reviews Materials | 86.2 |
| 8 | Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology | 82.2 |
| 9 | New England Journal of Medicine | 78.5 |
| 10 | Nature Reviews Earth & Environment | 71.5 |
1. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (Impact Factor: 232.4)
CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians is the highest-impact academic journal in the world. The journal focuses on cancer prevention, treatment, epidemiology, and clinical research.
Publisher: Wiley
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 1542-4863, 0007-9235
2. Nature Reviews Microbiology (Impact Factor: 103.3)
Nature Reviews Microbiology publishes high-quality review articles on microbiology, infectious diseases, virology, and microbial biotechnology.
Publisher: Nature Research
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 17401534, 17401526
3. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (Impact Factor: 101.8)
This journal focuses on drug development, pharmacology, and biotechnology. It publishes detailed reviews about new medicines, pharmaceutical research, and drug discovery processes.
Publisher: Nature Research
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 1474-1784, 1474-1776
4. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (Impact Factor: 90.2)
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology covers important topics related to cell biology, molecular mechanisms, and cellular processes. It is widely cited by scientists working in molecular and biomedical sciences.
Publisher: Nature Research
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 1471-0072, 1471-0080
5. Kidney International Supplements (Impact Factor: 89.6)
Kidney International Supplements publishes clinical practice guidelines and review articles related to kidney diseases and nephrology.
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 21571716, 21571724
6. The Lancet (Impact Factor: 88.5)
The Lancet is one of the oldest and most prestigious medical journals in the world. It publishes cutting-edge research on clinical medicine, public health, and global health policy.
Publisher: ELSEVIER
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 0140-6736
7. Nature Reviews Materials (Impact Factor: 86.2)
Nature Reviews Materials publishes high-impact review articles related to materials science, nanotechnology, and advanced materials research.
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 2058-8437
8. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology (Impact Factor: 82.2)
This journal focuses on clinical cancer research, treatment strategies, and oncology innovations. It publishes reviews that guide oncologists and cancer researchers worldwide.
Publisher: Nature
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 1759-4782, 1759-4774
9. New England Journal of Medicine (Impact Factor: 78.5)
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is among the most respected medical journals globally.
Publisher: Massachussetts Medical Society
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 0028-4793, 1533-4406
10. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (Impact Factor: 71.5)
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment focuses on climate science, environmental research, and earth systems science.
Publisher: Springer
Journal Quartile: Q1
ISSN: 2662-138X