Scientific production of Peru and Ecuador: A comparative bibliometric analysis

Freire A.G.H.; Freire A.H.H.; Ramos C.A.C.; Cariapaza L.M.M.; Maron B.V.M. · Iberoamerican Journal of Science Measurement and Communication (2026) · DOI: 10.47909/ijsmc.285

Resumen

Objective. This study compared the scientific production of Peru and Ecuador between 1996 and 2024, analyzing its evolution, impact, and growth based on bibliometric indicators derived from SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SCImago). Design/Methodology/Approach. A descriptive and comparative bibliometric study with a quantitative approach was developed. The data were obtained from SCImago in June 2025, based on information from Scopus. The indicators of production (total and citable documents), impact (total citations, H-in-dex, and citations per document), and growth (annual production, growth rates, and global and regional participation) were analyzed. The period covered 1996-2024 and allowed for the evaluation of longitu-dinal trends linked to scientific and institutional reforms in both countries. Results/Discussion. Peru had a higher cumulative output (77,771 documents) than Ecuador (60,731), as well as a higher impact in terms of total citations, citations per document, and H-index. However, Ecuador experienced rapid growth between 2016 and 2020, temporarily surpassing Peru in annual output. Starting in 2021, Peru regained and expanded its leadership, reaching a maximum difference of 2,706 documents in 2024. Both countries increased their share of global production: Peru reached 0.26% and Ecuador 0.19% in 2024. Conclusions. Peru maintains a structural advantage in volume and scientific impact, while Ecuador’s growth shows remarkable dynamism, although less sustainable over time. Both countries have improved their international presence, but they require stable policies and sustained investment to consolidate their competitiveness in the regional and global context.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano; Universidad Tecnológica del Perú