Indexing Freshness Alert
Our 2026 tracker has detected a significant fluctuation in this journal's impact metrics over the last 24 months. While still verified, researchers are advised to cross-reference with our Live Indexing Hub for the most recent status updates before submission.
eLife Journal Citation Rate 2026
2050-084X
eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
GB
Q2 Quartile Open Access Diamond OA Established Impact
About eLife
eLife (E) is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering Biology and Life Sciences, published by eLife Sciences Publications Ltd in GB and in circulation since 2012, catalogued under ISSN 2050-084X. As of 2026, it has a 2025 2-Year Citation Rate (OpenAlex) of 2.51 (Q2 quartile) — the average number of citations its recent articles received over a two-year window, computed from OpenAlex open citation data, not the Clarivate (JCR) Impact Factor. It is fully open access and free to publish (no APC). OpenAlex records 30,982 works and 1,117,135 citations, with an h-index of 322.
eLife Citation Rate 2026 — In Context
eLife has a 2025 2-Year Citation Rate (OpenAlex) of 2.51, placing it in the Q2 quartile within the Biology research area. This is the average number of citations the journal's recent articles received over a two-year window, computed from OpenAlex open citation data — not the Clarivate (JCR) Journal Impact Factor.
As a fully open-access publication, eLife makes all articles freely available to readers.
Researchers looking to publish in eLife should review the journal's submission tips and verify the latest indexing status against Scopus, DOAJ, and Web of Science using our indexing tracker. To compare eLife against similar journals in the field, use our journal comparison tool.
Submission Tips for eLife
- As a Diamond Open Access journal, there are no publication fees — an excellent choice for researchers without grant funding.
- This journal covers Biology, Life Sciences, Medicine. Ensure your manuscript aligns with these scope areas to avoid desk rejection.
How eLife Compares
Compared against 35 journals in the same research areas.
| ISSN (Print) | 2050-084X |
|---|---|
| Publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Established | 2012 |
| APC / Cost | Free (Diamond) |
| h-index | 324 |
| Total Works | 32,805 |
| Total Citations | 1,133,924 |
| 2-yr Mean Citedness | 1.78 (OpenAlex) |
| DOAJ | Listed |
In-depth profile & metrics
eLife is published by eLife Sciences Publications Ltd, based in United Kingdom and in publication since 2012. It is a Diamond Open Access title, free for both readers and authors.
In our subject taxonomy, eLife is classified under Biology, Life Sciences and Medicine.
eLife is indexed in the DOAJ and OpenAlex. DOAJ listing confirms the journal's open-access policies have been independently vetted.
OpenAlex records 32,805 works that have together drawn 1,133,924 citations, giving the journal an h-index of 324; its citation rate has fallen over the last 6 years, from 7.000 (2019) to 2.513 (2025); OpenAlex puts its two-year mean citedness at 1.78.
Research Areas
Links
Continue on JournalsHub
Put what you just read into practice with these free tools.
Frequently Asked Questions about eLife
Live Indexing Status
Updated July 2026Track real-time indexing metrics to ensure this journal meets your academic requirements.
Citation Rate
Historical Trend
The impact factor has declined by 64% over the last 6 years (from 7.000 to 2.513). Researchers should monitor ongoing metrics before submission.
Citation Rate by Year
| Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.513 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
| 2023 | 7.700 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
| 2022 | 8.700 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
| 2021 | 8.100 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
| 2020 | 7.000 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
Metrics are sourced from OpenAlex, DOAJ and Scopus and reflect the latest data we hold. The headline figure is a 2-year citation rate (OpenAlex), not a Clarivate Impact Factor. Always verify against the journal's official site before relying on it. See our Methodology or report a correction.
Works Published per Year (2014–2025)
Annual publication volume sourced from OpenAlex. Current year omitted (partial data).
Publication & citation history by year
| Year | Works published | Citations received |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,417 | 5,603 |
| 2024 | 6,710 | 19,767 |
| 2023 | 4,174 | 47,873 |
| 2022 | 2,039 | 68,831 |
| 2021 | 2,177 | 106,314 |
| 2020 | 2,086 | 132,377 |
| 2019 | 1,664 | 120,967 |
| 2018 | 1,407 | 124,442 |
| 2017 | 1,473 | 131,285 |
| 2016 | 1,238 | 128,071 |
| 2015 | 994 | 117,159 |
| 2014 | 657 | 82,660 |
Journal at a Glance
Source: OpenAlex — refreshed daily.
Top Research Topics
The areas where eLife most frequently publishes, ranked by article volume. Click a topic to see the best journals for it.
Compare Journals
Compare eLife against similar publications in its field:
Related Journals in Your Field
-
BMJ BMJ IF 93.30
-
New England Journal of Medicine Massachusetts Medical Society IF 91.20
-
The Lancet Elsevier BV IF 79.30
-
Nature Nature Portfolio IF 69.50
-
Cell Elsevier IF 66.80
Explore More Journals
Metadata
Last updated: Jul 12, 2026
Updated by: system
Get weekly updates for Biology journals
Free. Monday morning. New citation rates, CFPs, indexing alerts, predatory watch list. One-click unsubscribe.