Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript. To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript. To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Delving deeper
Six of the top ten global funders are based in China and gold OA was used for less than 35% of their published articles, illustrating both its volume of output and relatively low uptake of OA. The National Natural Science Foundation of China funded research that was included in 606k papers, constituting 14% of all articles, reviews, and conference papers in 2025. By comparison, the European Commission’s funded research produced 3% and the largest funder in the US, the National Institute of Health (NIH), produced 2%.
Research funded by top 25 funders based in China led to 27% of the global output of articles, review, and conference papers in 2025. Top 25 funders located in the US and Europe each contributed 5%. China’s large, centralised funding infrastructure is clearly a factor in the rapid growth in articles authored there.
Persistent geographical trends, reviewed further in the ‘By countries/regions’ section, are clearly reflected in the data for the top 25 funders. Open access has progressed most in Europe and has grown in the Americas. Uptake remains low for key parts of Asia, specifically China and India, ranked first and third globally for article output. Japan and Korea stand out as further ahead on open access uptake.
Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript. To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
In 2025
… In aggregate, 92% of articles, reviews, and conference papers based on funded research for all of the top 25 funders could have been gold OA. For 21 of the top funders, this applied to 90% or more papers. The highest rate of availability of gold OA was for the National Institutes of Health – USA, at 98% of papers based on funded research. There is no geographical disparity in the availability of gold for research funded by the top 25 global funders.
Gold represents those publications where the final published version of an article (Version of Record) is freely and permanently available online immediately on publication for anyone, anywhere to read. This includes articles in hybrid journals. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Green represents those publications where a version of an article is publicly shared online, often as an Accepted Manuscript. To support a sustainable business model, publishers may maintain an embargo and/or may retain an Exclusive License to Publish. Articles, reviews and conference papers are counted as Green open access only if they are not also Gold. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Bronze represents those publications that are made free-to-read on the publisher’s website, but are not identified as gold for one of the following reasons: access for a limited duration, an unclear license, or a license that is clear but is not a Creative Commons license. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Subscription-only represents those publications that are available through individual or institutional subscriptions, individual purchases, or other programs (e.g. Research4Life) but not available through Open Access. See Methodology and Notes for more information.
Increases for all top 25 funders
The rate of selection of gold OA when it was offered has increased since 2015 for all funders shown. The greatest increase in selection of gold OA over the period can be seen in publications based on research funded by The Ministry for Economy and Finance, Spain, and the German Research Foundation (DFG), increasing by 56% and 52% respectively, over the period. It is notable that funders based in China or India have the lowest increases in the selection of gold. Over the ten-year period, the selection of gold does not increase by more than 20% for any of the funders based in China and by less than 10% for the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India. Because the output of articles based on funded research for funders based in India and China is so high, it is unsurprising that the increase in selection of gold for all of the top 25 funders combined is 21%. For eleven of the top 25 funders, authors selected gold open access in more than 50% of cases where it was offered in 2025; UK Research and Innovation (United Kingdom) – 81%; German Research Foundation (DFG) – 80%; European Commission – 75%; Ministry of Economy and Finance (Spain) – 73%; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada – 60%; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science – 59%; National Institutes of Health (USA) – 58%; US Department of Energy – 54%; National Science Foundation (USA) – 53%; Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) – Brazil – 51%; Ministry of Science and ICT (South Korea) – 50%.
