China has surpassed the US and the EU in total research output

Number of papers published by China, the US and the EU

700 thousand

2021

646 China

638 EU-27

600

530 US

500

400

300

200

100

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

700 thousand

646 China

638 EU-27

600

530 US

500

400

300

200

100

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2021