World Development

Aims & Scope

World Development is a multi-disciplinary monthly journal of development studies.

It seeks to explore ways of improving standards of living, and the human condition generally, by examining potential solutions to problems such as: poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, disease, lack of shelter, environmental degradation, inadequate scientific and technological resources, trade and payments imbalances, international debt, gender and ethnic discrimination, militarism and civil conflict, and lack of popular participation in economic and political life.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	4.8
2024	5.40

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	2.161

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	233

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	1244

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	6952

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Economics, Econometrics and Finance and Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• The Rise and Fall of the Environmental Kuznets Curve

  Citation: 2546

  Authors: David I

• Enchantment and Disenchantment: The Role of Community in Natural Resource Conservation

  Citation: 1719

  Authors: Arun, Clark C

• Crossing the great divide: Coproduction, synergy, and development

  Citation: 1501

  Authors: Elinor

• Returns to investment in education: A global update

  Citation: 1441

  Authors: George

• The origins and practice of participatory rural appraisal

  Citation: 1392

  Authors: Robert

• Technological capabilities and industrialization

  Citation: 1230

  Authors: Sanjaya

• The Number, Size, and Distribution of Farms, Smallholder Farms, and Family Farms Worldwide

  Citation: 1221

  Authors: Sarah K., Jakob, Terri

• Common Property Institutions and Sustainable Governance of Resources

  Citation: 1207

  Authors: Arun

• Capitals and Capabilities: A Framework for Analyzing Peasant Viability, Rural Livelihoods and Poverty

  Citation: 1187

  Authors: Anthony

• Sustainable development: A critical review

  Citation: 1088

  Authors: Sharachchandra M.

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