Last Updated on July 1, 2026 by Dr. Bhagat
JOURNAL METRICS·Updated June 2026
SCIE Journal Impact Factor 2025 covers 9,500+ journals in the Science Citation Index Expanded. Learn the difference between SCI and SCIE, explore top-ranked journals, and understand WoS indexing criteria for 2025.
Key Takeaways
- SCIE Definition: The Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) is Clarivate’s comprehensive science index within the Web of Science Core Collection, covering over 9,500 journals.
- Publisher: Clarivate Analytics maintains SCIE as the current unified science index.
- JCR 2025 Release: The 2025 Journal Citation Reports were published June 20, 2025, covering 2024 citation data.
- SCIE Coverage: SCIE encompasses the former SCI (Science Citation Index) following the 2020 unification.
- Quartile System: SCIE journals are ranked Q1-Q4 within their assigned subject categories in JCR.
- ESCI Integration: As of 2024, ESCI journals also receive Impact Factors and JCR quartile rankings.
OVERVIEWSCIE vs SCI vs Scopus: How Many Journals Are There?
The Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) is the primary science index in Clarivate’s Web of Science Core Collection. As of 2025, SCIE indexes over 9,500 peer-reviewed journals across the natural sciences, physical sciences, life sciences, and engineering disciplines. This represents the unified index that absorbed the original Science Citation Index (SCI) in 2020.
| Index | Publisher | Coverage | Journals Indexed (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCIE | Clarivate | Science, Engineering, Medicine | 9,500+ |
| SSCI | Clarivate | Social Sciences | 3,500+ |
| AHCI | Clarivate | Arts & Humanities | 1,800+ |
| ESCI | Clarivate | Emerging sources (all disciplines) | 8,000+ |
| Scopus | Elsevier | All disciplines | 30,000+ |
COMPARISONWhich Is Better: SCI or SCIE?
Following Clarivate’s 2020 unification, SCI and SCIE are now a single index under the SCIE designation. The original SCI was a subset of the expanded SCIE catalog. Researchers evaluating journals should confirm Web of Science Core Collection indexing rather than distinguishing between SCI and SCIE. Both designations conferred equivalent recognition for Impact Factor eligibility prior to unification.
METRICSWhat Is JCR?
The Journal Citation Reports (JCR) is Clarivate’s annual publication of citation metrics for Web of Science Core Collection journals. The 2025 JCR release, published on June 20, 2025, reports Impact Factors based on 2024 citation data. SCIE journals receive Impact Factors, 5-Year Impact Factors, JCR Quartile rankings (Q1-Q4), Eigenfactor Scores, and Article Influence Scores.
JCR divides journals into subject categories and assigns quartile rankings based on Impact Factor distribution within each category: Q1 (top 25%), Q2 (25-50%), Q3 (50-75%), and Q4 (bottom 25%). A journal can belong to multiple categories and receive different quartiles in each.
COMPARISONWhich Is Better: SCIE or ESCI?
The Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) serves as an entry-level index for journals demonstrating quality but not yet achieving the citation metrics required for SCIE. Key distinctions include:
| Feature | SCIE | ESCI |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Factor (pre-2024) | Yes | No |
| Impact Factor (2024 onward) | Yes | Yes |
| JCR Quartile (pre-2024) | Yes | No |
| JCR Quartile (2024 onward) | Yes | Yes |
| Citation Threshold | Higher | Entry-level |
| Journal Maturity | Established | Emerging or developing |
| Promotion Path | N/A (top tier) | Can advance to SCIE |
For tenure and promotion evaluations, SCIE indexing typically carries greater weight than ESCI indexing, though the distinction has narrowed following the 2024 policy changes that extended Impact Factors and quartiles to ESCI journals.
FAQFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SCIE and SCI?
SCIE (Science Citation Index Expanded) absorbed SCI (Science Citation Index) in 2020. They are now a single unified index in the Web of Science Core Collection.
Do SCIE journals have Impact Factors?
Yes. All SCIE journals receive annual Impact Factors in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), provided they meet the minimum citation thresholds for calculation.
Is SCIE better than Scopus?
SCIE and Scopus serve different functions. SCIE is a curated, high-impact science index with rigorous selection criteria. Scopus covers a broader range of disciplines (30,000+ journals) and uses CiteScore rather than Impact Factor. The choice depends on disciplinary norms and institutional requirements.
How do I check if a journal is SCIE indexed?
Use the Clarivate Master Journal List search tool. Enter the journal title or ISSN to verify its indexing status in SCIE, SSCI, AHCI, or ESCI.
What is the JCR 2025 release date?
The 2025 Journal Citation Reports were released on June 20, 2025, covering citation data from the 2024 calendar year.
Can ESCI journals be promoted to SCIE?
Yes. ESCI journals that demonstrate sustained citation impact, editorial quality, and international recognition may be promoted to SCIE during Clarivate’s annual journal evaluation process.
