Last Updated on July 16, 2026 by Dr. Bhagat
JOURNAL METRICS·Updated June 2026
Scientific Reports Impact Factor 2025
Scientific Reports Impact Factor 2025 is 3.7 (Q2, Multidisciplinary Sciences, SCIE). As Nature Portfolio’s open-access mega-journal, it has published over 25,000 articles annually across all areas of natural and clinical sciences since its 2011 debut.
OVERVIEWAbout Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports is Springer Nature’s flagship multidisciplinary open-access journal, accepting technically sound research across the natural sciences, medicine, psychology, and engineering. Launched in 2011 under the Nature Publishing Group umbrella, it pioneered the “mega-journal” model in the Nature ecosystem, publishing high volumes of peer-reviewed research without assessing novelty or perceived impact. This editorial philosophy, grounded in objective peer review of methodological rigor rather than subjective editorial gatekeeping, has made Scientific Reports one of the world’s largest academic journals by article volume. Its 2025 impact factor of 3.7 reflects the citation dynamics inherent to high-volume, broad-scope publishing.
2025 METRICSScientific Reports Impact Factor & Full Metrics
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Impact Factor | 3.7 | JCR 2025 |
| JCR Quartile | Q2 | JCR 2025 |
| CiteScore | 6.5 | Scopus 2025 |
| SJR | 0.98 | Scimago 2025 |
| H-Index | 178 | Google Scholar |
| Category | Multidisciplinary Sciences | JCR 2025 |
| ISSN | 2045-2322 | Springer Nature |
| Publisher | Springer Nature | — |
| Established | 2011 | Nature Publishing Group |
| Article Volume | 25,000+ / year | Publisher data |
Key Takeaways
- Scientific Reports 2025 Impact Factor is 3.7 (Q2, Multidisciplinary Sciences).
- The CiteScore of 6.5 exceeds the JCR IF, indicating a longer citation accumulation window benefits this journal.
- Published by Springer Nature under the Nature Portfolio brand since 2011.
- Fully open access with peer review focused on technical soundness rather than perceived impact.
- H-index of 178 demonstrates significant cumulative citation impact despite high publication volume.
- Indexed in SCIE, Scopus, PubMed Central, DOAJ.
TRENDScientific Reports Impact Factor History (2017–2025)
Scientific Reports’ impact factor has demonstrated remarkable consistency, oscillating in the 3.5–5.0 band across most of its history. The stability reflects the journal’s editorial model: high volume and broad scope naturally produce a diluted but reliable citation profile. Unlike selective journals that see volatile IF swings based on a few blockbuster papers, Scientific Reports’ large article base smooths year-to-year variations.
| Year | Impact Factor | Quartile | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.7 | Q2 | → Stable |
| 2024 | 3.9 | Q2 | → Stable |
| 2023 | 4.2 | Q2 | → Stable |
| 2022 | 4.6 | Q2 | → Stable |
| 2021 | 4.9 | Q2 | ↗ Peak |
| 2020 | 4.4 | Q2 | → Stable |
| 2019 | 4.0 | Q2 | → Stable |
| 2018 | 4.1 | Q2 | → Stable |
| 2017 | 4.3 | Q2 | → Stable |
SCOPEWhat Research Does Scientific Reports Accept?
Scientific Reports accepts original research from any area of the natural sciences, clinical medicine, psychology, and engineering. The defining characteristic is not the subject matter but the peer-review standard: manuscripts must demonstrate methodological soundness and appropriate data analysis. Coverage spans physics and materials science, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, biological sciences, ecology and evolution, medicine and health sciences, neuroscience, psychology, and engineering. The journal explicitly welcomes negative results, replication studies, and incremental advances that might struggle to find a home in more selective venues.
COMPARISONScientific Reports vs. Comparable Journals
| Journal | 2025 IF | Quartile | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature Communications | 18.1 | Q1 | Selective Nature Portfolio journal |
| iScience | 4.1 | Q2 | Cell Press interdisciplinary |
| Scientific Reports | 3.7 | Q2 | High-volume, soundness-based review |
| PLOS ONE | 2.9 | Q2 | Original mega-journal model |
| Heliyon | 3.2 | Q2 | Elsevier broad-scope journal |
FAQFrequently Asked Questions
What is the Scientific Reports impact factor 2025?
The Scientific Reports impact factor 2025 is 3.7, placing it in Q2 of the Multidisciplinary Sciences category according to JCR 2025.
Is Scientific Reports a Nature journal?
Scientific Reports is published by Springer Nature under the Nature Portfolio brand. While it carries the Nature name, it operates as a separate, high-volume open-access journal distinct from selective Nature research journals.
Is Scientific Reports a Q1 journal?
No, Scientific Reports is currently a Q2 journal in the Multidisciplinary Sciences category. Its impact factor of 3.7 places it below the Q1 threshold for this category.
Is Scientific Reports predatory?
No, Scientific Reports is a legitimate journal published by Springer Nature, one of the world’s largest academic publishers. It is indexed in SCIE, Scopus, and PubMed Central. The journal uses a soundness-based peer review model and is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
What is the ISSN of Scientific Reports?
The ISSN of Scientific Reports is 2045-2322. The journal is online-only.
How much is the APC for Scientific Reports?
Scientific Reports charges an article processing charge (APC) that varies by region and currency. As of 2025, the standard APC is approximately £1,990 / €2,290 / $2,490. APCs are typically paid by authors, their institutions, or funders.
