How does Lancet compare to other journals?

The Lancet is consistently ranked as one of the top, most prestigious general medical journals in the world, frequently competing with The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) for the #1 spot in impact factor. It is highly regarded for its focus on global health, clinical trials, and, at times, higher citation rates in international, non-US, and lay media compared to US-centric journals like NEJM or JAMA.

How does The Lancet compare to other journals?

The Lancet more than doubles its impact factor, eclipsing NEJM for the first time ever. The Lancet has overtaken the New England Journal of Medicine as the medical journal with the highest impact factor, according to Clarivate's 2022 update to its Journal Citation Reports.

How prestigious is The Lancet?

The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, founded in England in 1823. It is one of the world's highest-impact academic journals and also one of the oldest medical journals still in publication.

What is the most credible medical journal?

New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) – Established in 1812, NEJM is renowned for its significant contributions to global medicine. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association – A trusted source for peer-reviewed articles and editorial coverage across disciplines.

What is the ranking of The Lancet journal?

The journal has an Impact Factor of 88·5, ranking first among 332 general and internal medicine journals (2024 Journal Citation Reports ®, Clarivate 2025) and a CiteScore of 87·6, ranking third among 668 general medical journals (Scopus).

Submitting to Top Journals - Don't Make These Mistakes! (Jocalyn Clark - The Lancet)

What is the most prestigious scientific journal?

JAMA is widely respected as the most prestigious journal in science because it conducts a tough peer-review process before publishing high-quality, impactful research. As an essential resource to senior clinicians, doctors and researchers across the globe, JAMA keeps them abreast of major advances in health care.

How hard is it to publish in The Lancet?

Lancet journals set extremely high standards for publishing, and any decision to reject a manuscript can be appealed. Editors occasionally make mistakes, and we always strive for an open, honest, and collaborative conversation between authors and our editors.

What are the top 5 journals?

There isn't one definitive "top 5" list, as it depends on the field, but highly influential journals across science and medicine often include Nature, Science, The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), The Lancet, and JAMA, while in economics, the "Big Five" are the American Economic Review, Econometrica, Journal of Political Economy, Quarterly Journal of Economics, and Review of Economic Studies. These top journals are distinguished by their prestige, high citation rates, and significant impact on their respective disciplines, often influencing career progression and research direction.
 

What are the big five medical journals?

The "Big Five" general medical journals, known for publishing high-impact research across specialties, are typically considered the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), The Lancet, JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), The BMJ (British Medical Journal), and often either Annals of Internal Medicine or a leading science journal like Nature Medicine, depending on the specific criteria used, though NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, and BMJ are consistently cited as core.
 

Is the Lancet British or American English?

The Lancet, British medical journal established in 1823. The journal's founder and first editor was Thomas Wakley, considered at the time to be a radical reformer.

Is 4.8 a good impact factor?

Yes, a 4.8 impact factor is generally considered very good to excellent, especially as it's well above the typical average (often under 1) and falls into the "good" (around 3) to "very good/excellent" (5+) range for many fields, though its true value depends heavily on the specific academic discipline. It signifies strong visibility and citation rates, but you should always compare it to other journals in the same subject category (quartile/percentile) for the best evaluation. 

Is Lancet owned by Elsevier?

The Lancet® is a registered trademark of Elsevier Properties S.A. All other trademarks appearing on this Site are the property of theirrespective owners.

What is The Lancet known for?

The Lancet is an independent, international general medical journal founded in 1823 by Thomas Wakley. Since its first weekly issue (October 5, 1823), the journal has strived to make science widely available so that medicine can serve, and transform society, and positively impact the lives of people.

Is The Lancet a trustworthy journal?

Lancet journals are internationally trusted sources of clinical, public health, and global health knowledge covering a broad range of clinical and global health specialties; essential early evidence through The Lancet Discovery Science; and all six regions of the world with The Lancet Regional Health.

Which is better, nature or elsevier?

Key context: Elsevier manages over 2,700+ journals and owns platforms like Scopus and ScienceDirect, while Springer (Springer Nature) publishes around 3,000+ journals and operates SpringerOpen for fully open-access publishing. Both are COPE members and follow strict publication ethics.

Is 2.5 a good impact factor for a journal?

Yes, an impact factor (IF) of 2.5 is generally considered good quality for a journal, placing it above average (most journals have IFs below 2), but not in the elite, top-tier range (which often starts at 5+ or 10+). It signifies decent visibility and citation frequency, but its "goodness" highly depends on the specific academic field, as citation patterns vary significantly between disciplines. 

What is the easiest medical journal to publish in?

The "easiest" medical journals often target specific audiences like students (e.g., Cambridge Medicine Journal, Student BMJ), publish case reports (e.g., BMJ Case Reports, American Journal of Case Reports), or offer quick turnaround for simpler studies, with options like International Journal of Nanomedicine (fast timeline) or PLOS ONE (non-selective) for broader appeal, while focusing on journals with lower barriers or specialized scopes, like those for medical education or specific regional focus. 

Which medical journal has the highest impact factor?

65 Highest Impact Factor Medical Journals

1. The Lancet, General Medicine And Clinical Research, Impact Score 172.30. ...
2. New England Journal Of Medicine (NEJM), General Medicine And Clinical Research, Impact Score 163.20. ...
3. Nature Medicine, Translational and clinical biomedical research, Impact score 91.10.

What are Tier 1 journals?

A "Tier 1 journal" signifies a highly prestigious and influential academic publication within a specific field, characterized by rigorous peer review, high citation rates (often Q1 quartile), significant impact on research and practice, and broad recognition by experts, making publication there a major achievement for researchers. While definitions vary, Tier 1 generally represents the top 10-25% of journals in a subject area.
 

Who is the most cited scholar?

The milestone makes machine-learning trailblazer Yoshua Bengio the most cited researcher on Google Scholar.

What is the rejection rate for Lancet?

It's very difficult to be published in The Lancet. Only 5% of submitted manuscripts accepted for publication in the Lancet family of nine general medicine specialty journals. Research published in The Lancet is considered ethical and credible.

How much does it cost to publish in Lancet?

Article publishing option

Article Publishing Charge (APC): USD 7,860 (excluding taxes).

Which journal has no publication fee?

Yes, many reputable journals offer free publication, especially traditional subscription-based ones and a growing number of "diamond" (or platinum) open-access journals, with key resources to find them including the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and lists on library guides like one from Jefferson Libraries and a guide from the AAH Library. Major publishers like Elsevier and Springer also host some journals with no Article Processing Charges (APCs), and resources like noapc.com specifically list thousands of Scopus/Web of Science indexed journals without fees.