Iran Ranks Among Top Five Nations for DOAJ-Indexed Journals: A Rising Hub for Academic Excellence

Iran’s Remarkable Growth in Open Access Journals

Iran has made impressive strides in the realm of scholarly communication, now ranking among the top five countries for open-access journals worldwide. According to the latest data from the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Iran boasts a total of 1,003 indexed journals, highlighting its commitment to making quality research accessible to all.

DOAJ is a comprehensive index that features a diverse range of open-access journals from across the globe. Its primary mission revolves around enhancing the visibility and accessibility of peer-reviewed scholarly research, irrespective of subject area, geography, or language. The organization is determined to maintain its independence while ensuring that all of its primary services and metadata remain freely available to everyone.

Over the past decade, Iran has seen remarkable growth in the number of indexed journals. The country’s progress can be summarized as follows:

• In 2015, Iran had only 95 indexed journals.
• This number rose to 506 journals by 2022.
• In 2024, the total reached 931 journals.
• By 2025, Iran achieved 1,003 indexed journals.

This significant increase demonstrates Iran’s dedication to expanding its scholarly output and enhancing global access to its research. Among the 1,003 indexed journals, 584 are published in Persian, while 480 are in English. Additionally, there are six journals published in Arabic, two in French, and two in Russian. Notably, Iran is also home to a journal in the Avestan language and one in Kurdish.

When it comes to regional language representation, Iran ranks ninth among 80 other languages with a total of 591 Persian journals. This achievement underscores the country’s efforts to promote research output in local languages alongside international publications.

On a global scale, the DOAJ data reveals that Indonesia leads the way with 2,511 indexed journals, followed by the United Kingdom (2,202), Brazil (1,533), and the United States (1,248). This context highlights Iran’s strong position in the open-access landscape.

Iran’s Academic Contributions Worldwide

In terms of research articles published, Iran ranks favorably against several countries. The top three nations in terms of article output are:

• China: 86,924 articles
• United States: 14,473 articles
• India: 11,194 articles

Iran surpasses countries such as England (4,360 articles), Japan (4,022 articles), and Spain (3,830 articles) in this ranking, as reported by ISNA. This achievement reflects the growing influence of Iranian researchers on the global academic stage.

The Q1 journal index is an essential metric used to classify scientific journals based on their impact. It is widely recognized in databases like Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) and Journal Citation Reports (JCR). The Q1 ranking relies on various factors, including:

• Impact factors
• SJR
• H-index
• Number of citations

The h-index, introduced by physicist Jorge Hirsch, serves as a vital measure for evaluating the scientific impact of researchers, journals, or universities. It assesses both the number of scientific publications and their citation impact, providing a balanced view of research quality and quantity.

Although Iran has experienced a decline in nanotechnology patenting since 2011, it remains among the top 30 countries in this domain, ranking 27th in 2024. Notably, the percentage of granted patents in Iran saw an increase from 19 percent in 2023 to 25 percent in 2024. Similarly, the proportion of published and granted patents rose from 17 percent in 2023 to 19 percent in 2024.

As of the end of 2024, Iran had published 364 nanotechnology-related patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Impressively, 25 percent of Iran’s patents registered with the USPTO fall within the nanotechnology sector, demonstrating the country’s ongoing innovation in this critical field.

This growth in both open-access journals and patenting in nanotechnology illustrates Iran’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting research that benefits not only the nation but also the global community.

In conclusion, Iran’s journey in the realm of open-access journals and patenting is a testament to its dedication to scholarly excellence and innovation. As the country continues to expand its academic contributions, it plays a vital role in the global academic landscape.