Which Journals Have the Highest Impact Factor?

Every researcher knows that Nature and Science sit at the pinnacle of academic publishing, but the full landscape of high-impact-factor journals is far more varied and field-specific than a two-journal shortlist suggests.

Before diving into rankings, it helps to be clear on what we are measuring. The journal impact factor (IF) is the average number of times articles published in a journal over the past two years were cited in a given year — a number calculated exclusively by Clarivate Analytics and published annually through the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). Understanding this metric is the first step to using it wisely. 

This guide identifies the highest-impact-factor journals across major disciplines and helps you understand whether targeting them makes sense for your work. 

The Absolute Pinnacle: Multidisciplinary Giants

Nature (IF: ~60–70) 

Nature is the most recognisable journal in science. Founded in 1869, it publishes original research across all scientific disciplines. Its enormous IF reflects both its prestige and the sheer breadth of its audience — every scientific community cites Nature, while most journals are cited only within their own field. 

Science (IF: ~55–65) 

Published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Science is Nature’s closest rival in terms of prestige and impact. Like Nature, its interdisciplinary reach inflates its IF far above any discipline-specific journal. 

Nature Communications (IF: ~16–18) 

The open-access sibling of Nature, publishing across all natural sciences. Its IF is lower than Nature but exceptional in absolute terms. 

Highest Impact Factor Journals in Medicine

• New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) — IF ~100+ 
• The Lancet — IF ~170+ 
• JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) — IF ~120+ 
• BMJ (British Medical Journal) — IF ~100+ 
• Nature Medicine — IF ~80+ 

Clinical medicine consistently produces the highest absolute IF scores of any specific discipline because medical research is read and cited by an enormous global community of clinicians, researchers, and public health professionals. 

Highest Impact Factor Journals in Biology and Life Sciences 

• Cell — IF ~65–70 
• Nature Genetics — IF ~38–42 
• Nature Cell Biology — IF ~28–32 
• Immunity — IF ~30–35 
• Molecular Cell — IF ~18–22 

Highest Impact Factor Journals in Chemistry 

• Chemical Reviews — IF ~50–55 
• Chemical Society Reviews — IF ~40–48 
• Nature Chemistry — IF ~24–28 
• Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) — IF ~16–18 

Chemical Reviews and Chemical Society Reviews have exceptionally high IFs because they publish comprehensive review articles that are heavily cited as reference texts across the field. 

Highest Impact Factor Journals in Physics 

• Reviews of Modern Physics — IF ~40–50 
• Nature Physics — IF ~22–26 
• Advanced Materials — IF ~27–32 
• Physical Review Letters — IF ~8–9 

Why Are Some Journal Impact Factors So High?

Curious about the mechanics behind these numbers? Our detailed guide on how journal impact factor is calculated walks through the exact formula, the role of Clarivate’s JCR, and common reasons IF scores vary dramatically between journals. In brief, three structural factors drive unusually high IFs: 

1. Interdisciplinary reach 

Journals that publish across multiple fields accumulate citations from every corner of science, multiplying their citation pool. 

2. High proportion of review articles 

Review articles cite far more papers and are cited far more often than original research articles. Journals that publish more reviews have structurally higher IFs. 

3. Prestige feedback loop 

High-prestige journals attract the best papers, which generate the most citations, which sustain the high IF — a self-reinforcing cycle. 

Should You Target the Highest-IF Journal Possible? 

Not necessarily. Extremely high rejection rates (Nature and Science reject more than 90% of submissions), scope mismatch, and long peer review cycles are all important factors to consider before aiming for the very top. 

The more useful question is: what counts as a strong IF for your field? A paper in a Q1 journal for your specific discipline will often be more valued by your colleagues and tenure committee than a submission to a prestigious journal outside your area. Our guide to what is a good impact factor for a journal breaks this down by discipline, with a practical decision framework for choosing the right target based on JCR quartile, subject category, and your career stage. 

Conclusion 

The journals with the highest absolute impact factors are extraordinary outliers, driven by interdisciplinary reach, large audiences, and self-reinforcing prestige. For most researchers, the relevant question is not which journals have the globally highest IF, but which journals have the strongest standing within their own field. Use JCR quartile rankings, subject-category benchmarks, and scope fit alongside raw IF numbers when choosing where to submit. 

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What is the highest impact factor journal in the world?

The Lancet currently holds one of the highest impact factors of any journal globally, with an IF exceeding 170. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and JAMA also consistently rank above 100. Outside medicine, Nature (IF ~60–70) and Science (IF ~55–65) lead among multidisciplinary journals.

Q2. Why do medical journals have higher impact factors than journals in other fields?

Medical research is read and cited by an exceptionally large global community — clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, and policymakers. This massive, overlapping audience inflates citation counts far beyond what is typical in fields like mathematics or engineering, where readership is narrower and citation cultures are slower.

Q3. Is Nature or Science the highest impact factor journal?

Neither, when compared to the top clinical medicine journals. The Lancet, NEJM, and JAMA all carry higher absolute IF scores than Nature or Science. However, Nature and Science are the highest-IF journals outside of medicine and are the most prestigious multidisciplinary publications in science.

Q4. What is the highest impact factor journal in biology?

Cell (IF ~65–70) is generally the highest-IF journal in cell biology. Other top-ranking journals in the life sciences include Nature Genetics (IF ~38–42) and Immunity (IF ~30–35). Rankings fluctuate annually, so always verify using the current Journal Citation Reports (JCR).

Q5. Should I aim to publish in the highest impact factor journal possible?

Not necessarily. Nature and Science reject over 90% of submissions. A paper published in a Q1 journal within your specific subfield is typically more valued by peers, tenure committees, and grant reviewers than a rejected or out-of-scope submission to a globally prestigious but field-agnostic journal. Scope fit, JCR quartile ranking, and audience reach matter as much as raw IF.

Q6. Why do review journals like Chemical Reviews have such high impact factors?

Review articles cite a large number of prior studies and are, in turn, heavily cited as foundational reference texts across an entire field. Journals that publish a high proportion of reviews — such as Chemical Reviews (IF ~50–55) and Chemical Society Reviews (IF ~40–48) — structurally accumulate more citations per article than journals publishing only original research.

Q7. How do I find the current impact factor of a journal?

The official source is Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports (JCR), updated annually each June. Free alternatives include scimago.org, which lists SJR scores and quartile rankings for over 27,000 journals. You can also check the journal’s own “For Authors” page, where most indexed journals display their current JCR-published IF.

Q8. Does a journal’s impact factor affect whether my paper gets accepted?

Not directly — IF is a metric for the journal, not for individual papers. However, high-IF journals set correspondingly high standards during peer review and are highly selective. Submitting a paper that is well within scope, methodologically rigorous, and likely to be widely cited gives you the best chance, regardless of which tier you target.