Nature Communications Journal Citation Rate 2026
2041-1723
Nature Portfolio
GB
Q1 Quartile Open Access Top Tier
About Nature Communications
Nature Communications (NC) is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering Life Sciences and Physical Sciences, published by Nature Portfolio in GB and in circulation since 2010, catalogued under ISSN 2041-1723. As of 2026, it has a 2025 2-Year Citation Rate (OpenAlex) of 14.53 (Q1 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, with an Article Processing Charge (APC) of approximately $6290 USD.
Nature Communications Citation Rate 2026 — In Context
Nature Communications has a 2025 2-Year Citation Rate (OpenAlex) of 14.53, placing it in the Q1 quartile within the Life Sciences 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, Nature Communications makes all articles freely available to readers for an Article Processing Charge of approximately $6290 USD.
Researchers looking to publish in Nature Communications 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 Nature Communications against similar journals in the field, use our journal comparison tool.
Submission Tips for Nature Communications
- Budget $6290 for the Article Processing Charge. Check if your institution or funder covers OA fees.
- This journal covers Life Sciences, Physical Sciences. Ensure your manuscript aligns with these scope areas to avoid desk rejection.
How Nature Communications Compares
Compared against 8 journals in the same research areas.
| ISSN (Print) | 2041-1723 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Established | 2010 |
| APC / Cost | $6290 USD |
In-depth profile & metrics
Nature Communications is published by Nature Portfolio, based in United Kingdom and in publication since 2010. It publishes open access with an article-processing charge of USD 6290.
In our subject taxonomy, Nature Communications is classified under Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.
Its citation rate has risen over the last 6 years, from 11.900 (2019) to 14.529 (2025).
Research Areas
Links
Continue on JournalsHub
Put what you just read into practice with these free tools.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nature Communications
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 grown by 22% over the last 6 years (from 11.900 to 14.529), indicating rising influence and citation activity in its field.
Citation Rate by Year
| Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14.529 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
| 2024 | 16.600 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
| 2023 | 15.770 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
| 2022 | 17.700 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
| 2021 | 14.900 | 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.
Research Highlights
Recently published high-impact papers in this journal:
-
River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans
Laurent Lebreton, Joost van der Zwet, Jan-Willem Damsteeg et al. • 2017
-
Social status and the relationship between income rank and well-being in 109 nations
Edika Quispe-Torreblanca, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Gordon D. A. Brown • 2026
-
Crosstalk between EZH2 and DNA methylation mediates neuroendocrine prostate cancer lineage plasticity
Richa Singh, Varadha Balaji Venkadakrishnan, Philippe Lamy • 2026
-
A testis-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase complex governs spermiogenesis and male fertility
Tiantian Wu, Chaofeng Tu, Yuxuan Feng • 2026
-
Molecular insights into fungal inositol phosphorylceramide synthesis and its inhibition by antifungal aureobasidin A
Jiehui Chen, Yan Ke, Min Zhang • 2026
Compare Journals
Compare Nature Communications against similar publications in its field:
Related Journals in Your Field
-
Nature Nature Portfolio IF 69.50
-
Cell Elsevier IF 66.80
-
Science American Association for the Advancement of Science IF 63.70
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences National Academy of Sciences IF 54.05
-
Journal of the American Chemical Society American Chemical Society IF 16.30
Explore More Journals
Metadata
Last updated: Jul 12, 2026
Updated by: system
Get weekly updates for Life Sciences journals
Free. Monday morning. New citation rates, CFPs, indexing alerts, predatory watch list. One-click unsubscribe.