Source: The World’s Best Countries in Science: Scientific American
A: RESEARCH PAPERS: Score, on a 100-point scale, based on science papers in top journals (Digital Science, 2011)
B: PATENTS ISSUED: Number of patents (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 2011)
C: EXPENDITURE: Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (2009*)
D: HIGHER EDUCATION: Number of science and engineering doctoral degrees awarded (2009*)
| RESEARCH PAPERS | PATENTS ISSUED | EXPENDITURE | HIGHER EDUCATION | |
| 1. U.S. | 1. U.S. | 1. U.S. | 1. U.S. | |
| 2. Germany | 2. Japan | 2. China | 2. Germany | |
| 3. China | 3. South Korea | 3. Japan | 3. U.K. | |
| 4. Japan | 4. Germany | 4. Germany | 4. Japan | |
| 5. U.K. | 5. Taiwan | 5. France | 5. France | |
| 6. France | 6. Canada | 6. U.K. | 6. Italy | |
| 7. Canada | 7. France | 7. Russian Fed. | 7. Brazil | |
| 8. South Korea | 8. U.K. | 8. Italy | 8. Canada | |
| 9. Italy | 9. China | 9. Canada | 9. Spain | |
| 10. Spain | 10. Italy | 10. Spain | 10. Australia | |
| 11. Switzerland | 11. Australia | 11. Australia | 11. Sweden | |
| 12. Australia | 12. Israel | 12. Sweden | 12. Switzerland | |
| 13. Netherlands | 13. Netherlands | 13. Netherlands | 13. Poland | |
| 14. India | 14. Switzerland | 14. Switzerland | 14. Netherlands | |
| 15. Taiwan | 15. Sweden | 15. Austria | 15. Turkey | |
| 16. Israel | 16. India | 16. Turkey | 16. Portugal | |
| 17. Singapore | 17. Finland | 17. Israel | 17. Czech Reublic | |
| 18. Sweden | 18. Belgium | 18. Belgium | 18. Austria | |
| 19. Belgium | 19. Austria | 19. Finland | 19. Belgium | |
| 20. Denmark | 20. Denmark | 20. Denmark | 20. Mexico | |
| 21. Austria | 21. Singapore | 21. Mexico | 21. Finland | |
| 22. Russian Fed. | 22. Hong Kong | 22. Poland | 22. Israel | |
| 23. Hong Kong | 23. Spain | 23. South Africa | 23. Slovakia | |
| 24. Brazil | 24. Norway | 24. Norway | 24. Denmark | |
| 25. Finland | 25. Ireland | 25. Portugal | 25. Greece |
10 Hot 