Scientometrics

[Link]

Bibliometric analysis of Sci‑Hub downloads by Egyptian

researchers

Ismail Ragab Osman1 · Hendy Abdullah Hendy Ahmed1

Received: 11 August 2023 / Accepted: 18 January 2024

© The Author(s) 2024

Abstract
In this study we present an in-depth bibliometric analysis of Sci-Hub downloads by Egyp-
tian researchers based on the 2017 download log file. The study reveals that Egyptian
researchers heavily rely on Sci-Hub, generating a substantial 1,357,526 download requests
in 2017, with 65% of these occurring outside regular working hours. Cairo emerges as a
central hub for this activity, contributing 81.58% of total downloads. Journal articles con-
stitute the majority of downloads at 82.36%, followed by conference papers (12.89%). A
discernible trend shows a preference for recent papers published between 2012 and 2017,
highlighting the demand for up-to-date research. The analysis also highlights prominent
publishers, including IEEE, Elsevier, Wiley, and Springer, as preferred sources for Egyp-
tian researchers. “Journal of the American Chemical Society” and “Journal of Applied
Physics” stand out among accessed journals, while IEEE-associated conferences, nota-
bly “IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting,” dominate conference paper
downloads. Examining journal accessibility via the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB)
reveals that 62.84% of journals are accessible, with Science Direct as the leading provider
(28.37%). However, a significant gap emerges as 87.39% of downloaded conference papers
remain inaccessible through EKB. Furthermore, a semantic analysis highlights recur-
ring themes such as “systems,” “review,” “analysis,” “treatment,” “power,” and “energy,”
reflecting the key research areas of Egyptian researchers. Overall, this study offers valuable
insights into Sci-Hub’s role in supplementing Egyptian researchers’ resource access and
underscores the need for comprehensive resource coverage and accessibility enhancements.

Keywords Sci-Hub · Egyptian researchers · Bibliometric analysis · Egyptian knowledge

bank · Log file analysis

Introduction

Access to scientific articles is vital for global researchers, playing a pivotal role in
advancing knowledge and fostering high-quality research. However, the prevalent busi-
ness model of scientific journals, marked by high subscription costs and individual

* Ismail Ragab Osman

iretman@[Link]
1
Libraries and Information Department, Faculty of Arts, Damietta University, New Damietta, Egypt

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article fees, hampers accessibility, leaving approximately 75% of scholarly documents

inaccessible across disciplines (Bosman & Kramer, 2018). Notably, prestigious journals
maintain articles behind paywalls, impeding scientific progress (Galian et al., 2023),
with a disproportionate impact on researchers in lower-income countries Himmelstein
et al. (2018).
In response to these challenges, initiatives such as the Research4Life program and vari-
ous open-access initiatives have been implemented to provide unrestricted online access
to scholarly literature (Research4Life, 2023; Suber, 2012). While these initiatives demon-
strate progress in addressing accessibility issues, they also highlight the persistent need for
additional efforts to enhance accessibility to scientific literature (Mekonnen et al., 2022).
An alternative solution to limited access emerged in 2011 with the launch of Sci-Hub by
Alexandra Elbakyan, a software developer and neurotechnologist (Bohannon, 2016a). Sci-
Hub’s primary objective is to provide free and unrestricted access to scientific knowledge
for individuals worldwide (Sci-Hub, 2023). Initially used primarily by Russian researchers,
the platform rapidly gained popularity globally, illustrating its potential to meet the wide-
spread demand for accessible research articles beyond geographical boundaries (Elbakyan
& Bozkurt, 2021).
The recognition of Sci-Hub’s benefits has led to extensive research on the analysis
of downloaded papers from the platform, leading to several notable studies. Bohannon’s
analysis revealed 28 million download requests in six months, highlighting Sci-Hub’s sig-
nificant value globally (Bohannon, 2016b). Greshake’s comparative study explored user
motivations, emphasizing biases toward newer articles and specific disciplines, showcas-
ing Sci-Hub’s diverse user base (Greshake, 2017). Himmelstein et al. (2018) showcased
the platform’s extensive database, surpassing university access, underscoring its vital role
for researchers. Owens’ study outlined the global impact of Sci-Hub, with India and China
leading in downloads, raising legal and ethical concerns (Owens, 2022).
Studies also investigated Sci-Hub’s discipline-specific impacts. Andročec’s analysis
in computer science found 607,023 papers downloaded, including those from prominent
publishers like IEEE, Elsevier BV, and Springer Nature (Andročec, 2017). Till et al.’s
bibliometric review of medical article downloads highlighted users from low- and mid-
dle-income countries, emphasizing accessibility challenges (Till et al., 2019). In contrast,
Kornienko’s study on food industry journals indicated lower demand compared to prestig-
ious general science journals (Kornienko, 2020).
Regional investigations demonstrated Sci-Hub’s global impact, with Machin-Mastro-
matteo et al. (2016) noting 12.54% of global downloads in Latin America. In India, Singh
et al. (2021a) reported over 13 million papers accessed, while Moskovkin et al. (2021),
identified 1.5 million downloads among Russian researchers. Broader issues were explored
by Gardner et al. (2017), assessing Sci-Hub’s impact on interlibrary loan services, open
access levels in Indian research output (Singh et al., 2020), and Sci-Hub’s impact on Indian
research visibility (Singh et al., 2021b). Additionally, Buehling et al. (2022) investigating
free access in mathematics. Geng et al. (2022) studied scientists’ downloading patterns,
providing insights into work habits.
Despite the significant contributions of previous research in advancing our understand-
ing of Sci-Hub usage and its implications, there remains a considerable gap in knowledge
concerning the specific patterns and trends among Egyptian users. This knowledge gap is
particularly significant considering Egypt’s position as the seventh-ranked country in terms
of Sci-Hub usage, trailing behind Iran, China, India, Russia, USA, and Brazil (Bohannon,
2016b). To bridge this gap, the present study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliomet-
ric analysis of Sci-Hub downloads by Egyptian researchers, providing localized insights

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into their behaviors and preferences when accessing scientific literature through the Sci-
Hub platform.

Objectives

This study has three primary objectives: (1) to conduct a comprehensive analysis and quan-
tification of the volume of papers downloaded by Egyptian researchers from Sci-Hub; (2)
to evaluate the accessibility of the downloaded papers within the EKB platform; and (3) to
provide support to the EKB administration in the strategic curation of a pertinent collection
of electronic resources tailored to meet the specific research needs of the Egyptian aca-
demic community. By addressing these objectives, the study endeavors to contribute to the
enhancement of research support and resource management within the academic landscape
of Egypt.

Materials and methods

Data source

The primary data source for this study was the 2017 download log file acquired from Sci-
Hub, as detailed by (Elbakyan, 2018). The log file encompasses crucial information in
eight key fields: Timestamp, DOI, IP identifier, User identifier, Country (determined using
GeoIP), City (determined using GeoIP), Latitude, and Longitude. It is noteworthy that the
log file’s substantial size was 14.5 GB, providing an extensive dataset for analysis.

Data extraction

Handling large files can be challenging, especially when the available hardware resources
are inadequate to handle their size. Consequently, researchers had to implement multi-
ple steps to extract the necessary data concerning download requests made by Egyptian
researchers from the log file. To address this issue, the main log file was initially parti-
tioned into 179 smaller segments, each sized at 80 MB. This division process was facili-
tated using the mingw-w64 program. Following the partitioning, OpenRefine was utilized
to efficiently extract the relevant data associated with Egyptian researchers from these
smaller segmented files. The extracted data was then saved in CSV format, enabling seam-
less further processing and analysis.
To organize the data effectively, Microsoft Access 365 was employed to create a data-
base. The extracted CSV files were then imported into a single table, resulting in a total of
1,357,526 records. This consolidated dataset provided a comprehensive view of the down-
load requests made by Egyptian researchers. Two queries were developed to refine the data.
The first query focused on extracting the coordinates of the downloaded papers’ locations
within Egypt, enabling a geographical analysis. This query yielded 86 unique records, rep-
resenting distinct geographic locations within Egypt where the downloaded papers origi-
nated. The second query aimed to extract the unique DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) of
the downloaded papers. This query resulted in 892,228 unique DOI records, representing
the individual research papers that were downloaded by Egyptian researchers.

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Identification of downloaded paper locations

The geographic locations of the downloaded papers were identified on Google Maps using
the Latitude and Longitude data. This enabled the visualization of the distribution of down-
loaded papers across different regions in Egypt.

Retrieval of metadata

In order to enhance data analysis, the researchers utilized Zotero-6.0.18, a reference man-
agement software, and employed four desktop PCs to extract metadata from the CrossRef
database for the unique DOIs obtained earlier. The extracted metadata included various
details such as item type, publication year, author, title, publication title, ISBN, ISSN, DOI,
URL, and other relevant information. Among the 892,228 unique DOIs, metadata records
were successfully retrieved for 891,651 DOIs. However, metadata for 577 DOIs could not
be retrieved. The inability to retrieve metadata for these DOIs may be attributed to fac-
tors such as incomplete information, unavailability in the CrossRef database, or temporary
issues with the internet connection during the retrieval process. After retrieving the meta-
data, it was stored in CSV files to ensure compatibility for further processing and analysis.
These CSV files were then imported into Microsoft Excel, providing a convenient platform
for additional examination and exploration of the data.

Analysis techniques

In order to extract valuable insights from the downloaded papers, a variety of analysis tech-
niques were utilized. These techniques involved examining factors such as the distribution
of papers based on publication type, publication year, publisher, and other relevant charac-
teristics. Additionally, word clouds were created using the Voyant-Tool to visually repre-
sent the frequency of specific terms found in the titles of the most downloaded papers.

Results

Distribution of requests by timespan

The data analysis revealed that Egyptian researchers submitted a significant number of
requests to Sci-Hub in 2017, totaling 1,357,526. Notably, 65% of these requests (881,928)
occurred outside regular working hours, while the remaining 35% (475,598) took
place during standard working hours (9:00 to 16:00). Examining the patterns of paper
downloads, a distinct trend emerged. The majority of activity happened during the night,
peaking between 21:00 and 0:00, constituting about 25% of total requests. Additionally, a
second peak occurred in the afternoon, from 12:00 to 15:00, accounting for approximately
21% of requests. Morning hours had a lower download percentage (around 7%), gradually
increasing from 9:00 to 15:00 (see Fig. 1). This suggests a preference among Egyptian
researchers for using Sci-Hub during non-working hours, particularly at night.
The data in Fig. 2 displays the distribution of download requests from Sci-Hub
across weekdays. Notably, Saturday, classified as a weekend day, leads with the highest

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Fig. 1  Distribution of requests by daily hours

Fig. 2  Distribution of requests by days of the week

download requests at 199,029 (14.66% of the total), closely followed by Monday at

198,622 (14.63% of the total). Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday also exhibit substantial
download activity, each contributing to around 14% of the total requests.

Locations of requests within Egypt

The analysis of Sci-Hub download requests by Egyptian researchers reveals a substan-

tial concentration, with Cairo comprising 81.58% (1,107,437) of the total, followed
by Alexandria at 6.43% (87,246), and Giza at 3.73% (50,671). The top three gover-
norates collectively contribute 91.74%, highlighting a regional emphasis on accessing
scholarly content. The remaining 27 governorates account for 8.26% (112,172) of the
download requests.

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Fig. 3  Distribution of downloaded papers by document types and total of downloads

Fig. 4  Distribution of downloaded papers by published year

Types of downloaded papers

In 2017, Egyptian researchers exhibited substantial engagement with Sci-Hub,

downloading a total of 891,651 research papers, accessed 1,357,526 times. Figure 3
illustrates the distribution of these papers, emphasizing various document types. Journal
articles constituted the majority, with 82.36% of downloads (734,322 articles), reflecting
the researchers’ reliance on this format for primary research and knowledge. Conference
papers also played a significant role, comprising 12.89% of downloads (114,975 papers).
Furthermore, Egyptian researchers displayed notable interest in book chapters and books
from Sci-Hub, indicating a comprehensive approach to research and learning.

Distribution of downloaded papers by published year

Figure 4 presents a distribution of downloaded papers by their published years, revealing

distinct temporal trends in the preferences of Egyptian researchers using Sci-Hub. The
data underscores a clear emphasis on recent research, with the highest percentage of
downloads (43%) attributed to papers published between 2012 and 2017. Substantial

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percentages are also observed for the 2006–2011 (20%) and 2000–2005 (14%) periods,
indicating a preference for contemporary literature. Conversely, there is a declining interest
in papers from earlier years, with only 3% of downloads associated with papers published
before 1970. This temporal analysis highlights the dynamic nature of research interests
among Egyptian researchers, reflecting a focus on staying abreast of the latest scientific
developments.

Publishers of downloaded papers

The top 10 publishers, as revealed in Fig. 5, play a significant role in shaping the
preferences of Egyptian researchers utilizing Sci-Hub. The leading publishers include
IEEE (16.4%), Elsevier (15.7%), and Wiley (11.2%). IEEE and Elsevier predominantly
offer conference papers (65.4%) and journal articles (89.8%), respectively. Wiley focuses
on journal articles (94.1%), while Springer provides a mix of journal articles (81.5%), book
Sects. (12.3%), and books (6.1%). Other publishers, such as Taylor & Francis, ACS, LWW,
OUP, Sagepub, and Scitation, also contribute to the downloaded papers. Overall, 74.53%
of the total downloaded papers by Egyptian researchers on Sci-Hub come from these top
10 publishers, underscoring their significant impact on shaping the information landscape
for researchers.

Distribution of downloaded journal articles by journals

Egyptian researchers demonstrated diverse engagement with scholarly literature by

downloading 734,322 journal articles from 18,216 different journals. The top 10 most
downloaded journals, highlighted in Table 1, reveal diverse interests, with a focus on
chemistry and physics-related content evident through dominant ACS and physics journals.
Notably, the “Journal of the American Chemical Society” and “Journal of Applied Physics”
lead in downloads. The data reflects researchers’ diverse interests, encompassing journals

Fig. 5  Top 10 publishers by number of downloaded papers

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Table 1  Top 10 most downloaded journals

Rank Journal No. downloads Publisher EKB access

1 Journal of the American Chemical Society 4,345 ACS No

2 Journal of Applied Physics 4,325 Scitation No
3 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 3,944 ACS No
4 Physical Review B 3,868 APS No
5 Applied Physics Letters 3,574 Scitation No
6 Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 3,528 ACS No
7 Science 3,406 Science No
8 The New England Journal of Medicine 3,015 NEJM No
9 The Lancet 2,939 Elsevier Yes, Science direct
10 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2,606 ACS No

like “Science,” “The New England Journal of Medicine,” and “The Lancet.” Interestingly,
all the listed journals, except for “The Lancet,” lack access through the EKB.

Distribution of downloaded conference papers by conference

Egyptian researchers exhibit a strong interest in accessing conference papers, as evi-

denced by the download of 114,975 papers from 7,452 conferences, according to
Table 2. The “IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting” emerges as the most
popular conference, with 1247 downloaded papers, followed by the “IEEE Antennas
and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI)” with 1,096 papers and
the “IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference” with 1,044 papers. Notably, IEEE-affili-
ated conferences dominate the top 10, emphasizing the significant influence of this pro-
fessional organization in attracting researchers.
The data spans diverse coverage years, showcasing the evolving nature of research
and progress in various disciplines. This allows researchers to explore historical devel-
opments, track emerging trends, and identify ongoing areas of interest. The conferences
cover a broad range of topics, reflecting the multidisciplinary interests of Egyptian

Table 2  Top 10 most downloaded conferences

Rank Conference name No. downloads Coverage years

1 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting 1,247 2003–2016

2 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Sympo- 1,096 1988–2017
sium
3 IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference 1,044 1977–2017
4 IEEE International Conference on Communications 1,007 1990–2017
5 IEEE Global Communications Conference 943 1991–2016
6 IEEE Annual Conference of IEEE Industrial Electronics 917 1987–2017
7 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference 876 1968–2017
8 IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society 872 1988–2017
9 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems 868 1988–2017
10 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition 758 1979–2017

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researchers, including power and energy, antennas and propagation, vehicular tech-
nology, communications, industrial electronics, solid-state circuits, and biomedical
engineering.

Distribution of book chapters by book series

Egyptian researchers have downloaded book chapters from a wide range of 11,624 different
book series, as revealed in the data analysis. Table 3 highlights the top 10 most frequently
downloaded book series by these researchers, providing insights into their specific research
interests. The Methods in Enzymology book series tops the list, with 505 downloads, indi-
cating a significant interest in enzymology research and experimental methods. The sec-
ond-ranking Bergey’s Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria reflects researchers’
engagement in microbiology and the study of microorganisms.
Notable book series in the top 10 include the Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Ency-
clopedia of Applied Plant Sciences, and Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry,
revealing diverse research interests in clinical neurology, plant sciences, and industrial
chemistry, respectively. The inclusion of reference materials such as The Encyclopedia of
Ancient History and eLS (Encyclopedia of Life Sciences) indicates researchers’ interest
in historical research and life sciences. Analyzing Table 3 reveals the notable influence of
Elsevier and Wiley, each featuring in five book series, signifying their substantial roles as
leading publishers. ACS, with one series, emphasizes its commitment to delivering quality
content in chemistry-related research.

Availability of downloaded papers via EKB

The EKB was introduced by the Egyptian government in 2016 as an online knowledge
platform and digital library. Its primary objective is to grant Egyptian citizens, students,
and researchers access to a vast range of educational resources, encompassing books,
research papers, academic journals, and multimedia content. To achieve this goal, the

Table 3  Top 10 most downloaded book series

Rank Book series title Publisher No. of
down-
loads

1 Methods in Enzymology Elsevier 505

2 Bergey’s Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria Wiley 493
3 Handbook of Clinical Neurology Elsevier 306
4 Encyclopedia of Applied Plant Sciences Elsevier 220
5 Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry Wiley 211
6 The Encyclopedia of Ancient History Wiley 205
7 eLS (Encyclopedia of Life Sciences) Wiley 155
8 Advances in Heterocyclic Chemistry Elsevier 143
9 Wiley Encyclopedia of Management Wiley 133
10 Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis Elsevier 106
10 ACS Symposium Series ACS 106

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EKB collaborates with numerous providers and publishers to offer users an extensive
collection of electronic resources. Some of the notable providers and publishers
associated with the EKB include Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, IEEE, SAGE,
CABI Academy, Clarivate Web of Science, Cochran Library, EBSCO host, Emerald
Publishing, Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), IOP Publishing, JSTOR,
LexisNexis, The NEJM, ProQuest, and Wolters Kluwer.

Availability of downloaded journals via EKB

The study assessed the accessibility of journals downloaded from Sci-Hub through
the EKB by examining a sample of 1604 journals with a minimum of 100 articles,
representing 66.34% of total journal article downloads (487,128). Manual queries on
[Link] revealed that 62.84% (1008 journals) were accessible through EKB, while
37.16% (596 journals) were not. Figure 6 illustrates the distribution of downloaded
journals across EKB databases, with Science Direct, Wiley, and Springer holding the
largest shares. The top three databases collectively cover over 70% of the available
journals, highlighting the concentration of downloaded journals within specific EKB
databases and the prominence of certain platforms in providing access to scholarly
literature.

Availability of downloaded conference papers via EKB

A study assessed the accessibility of downloaded conference papers from Sci-Hub within
EKB subscriptions. The sample included 1420 conference papers downloaded at least 7
times, totaling 15,324 downloads. A manual search within EKB subscriptions, utilizing

Fig. 6  Distribution of downloaded journals by EKB databases

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the IEEE subscription and federated search, revealed that the majority (87.39%) of these
conference papers were not accessible through EKB. However, 12.61% of the papers (179)
were accessible through official academic channels within the EKB. This data highlights
the limited availability of certain conference papers through EKB subscriptions, emphasiz-
ing the need for researchers to explore alternative avenues for accessing academic content.

Research trends analysis

The research trends analysis focused on highly downloaded papers by Egyptian research-
ers, encompassing both journal articles and conference papers with a minimum of 7 down-
loads. The dataset included 10,213 papers, downloaded 108,649 times, representing 8.5%
of overall downloads. The titles of these papers contributed 127,534 words and comprised
15,154 unique word forms. Voyant Tools was utilized to create a visually appealing word
cloud based on the titles, providing a concise and engaging representation of the prevalent
research trends among Egyptian researchers.
The word cloud, illustrated in Fig. 7, reveals key terms that dominate the downloaded
papers. “Systems” emerges prominently with 805 occurrences, suggesting a strong
emphasis on systemic approaches across diverse disciplines. Following closely, “based”
appears 696 times, indicating a reliance on established frameworks within research
domains. Notably, “power” (404) and “energy” (340) signify a robust interest in power-
related domains, encompassing energy systems, wind, control, design, and energy
conversion/storage.
Medical and healthcare research emerges as a prominent theme, evident in terms like
“treatment” (441 occurrences), “disease” (221), and “cancer” (221). This underscores a
dedicated focus on advancing knowledge in medical treatment, disease management, and

Fig. 7  Word cloud with top 100 most frequent words in highly downloaded papers. Most 20 frequent words
in the word cloud: systems (805); based (696); review (570); analysis (467); treatment (441); power (404);
synthesis (345); applications (343); energy (340); design (318); control (304); nanoparticles (299); clinical
(256); networks (254); patients (247); performance (244); management (241); low (221); high (221);
disease (221); cancer (221)

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therapies for various conditions. Communication technologies play a substantial role, as

reflected in terms like “networks” (254 occurrences), “wireless,” and “5g,” indicating
active research engagement in wireless communication networks, 5G technologies, and
challenges associated with cognitive and heterogeneous networks.
Nanotechnology and material science are evident through terms like “nanoparticles”
(299 occurrences), “synthesis” (345), and “applications” (345). This emphasizes a sub-
stantial focus on the synthesis, characterization, and applications of nanoparticles, particu-
larly in drug delivery and cancer-related research. Overall, the word cloud analysis offers
a nuanced understanding of the diverse and multidisciplinary research interests driving the
scholarly activities of Egyptian researchers.

Discussion

The study aimed to analyze the characteristics of papers downloaded by Egyptian research-
ers from Sci-Hub. The study utilized the 2017 download log file from Sci-Hub to gain
insights from the data. The findings revealed that in 2017, Egyptian researchers down-
loaded a total of 1,357,526 papers from Sci-Hub. A comparison with 2015 data, where
the number of paper requests by Egyptian researchers was 515,190 (Bohannon, 2016b),
showed a significant increase of 2.6 times in just two years, indicating a remarkable growth
rate of 163.5%. These results highlight the escalating reliance of Egyptian researchers on
Sci-Hub as a vital resource for accessing scholarly papers.
The analysis of Sci-Hub usage among Egyptian researchers revealed a distinct trend in
accessing scholarly papers, particularly during non-working hours, predominantly at night.
Notably, the peak demand for downloads occurred between 21:00 and 0:00. These find-
ings support prior research that indicates scientists often dedicate their time to work dur-
ing off-hours and weekends (Wang et al., 2012). At the country level, this study’s findings
align with previous research, which observed a similar trend among scientists in China and
Japan who engage in additional work during specific evening hours (Geng et al., 2022).
However, on a global level, the usage pattern of Sci-Hub differs, with the lowest activity
recorded around 04:00 and peaks during 10:00–11:00 and 14:00–15:00 (Geng et al., 2022).
The flow of Sci-Hub activity over time mirrors the working lives of researchers, gradu-
ally increasing throughout the day and subsiding but never ceasing as night falls (Bohan-
non, 2016b). These differences indicate diverse usage patterns of Sci-Hub across countries,
which can be influenced by factors such as working cultures and the availability of official
academic platforms.
The examination of the data reveals a consistent pattern of paper downloads throughout
the week, with the highest demand occurring on Fridays and Saturdays, which correspond
to the weekends in Egypt. This observation implies that scholars often turn to Sci-Hub
during their leisure hours or outside of their typical workdays. This consistent trend aligns
with the findings of prior research conducted by Wang et al. (2012), which suggested
that researchers frequently extend their work hours and utilize their available free time,
including weekends, for engaging in research-related activities. As a result, the heightened
download activity during weekends could signify scholars’ dedication to advancing their
academic endeavors during periods when they have more flexibility and uninterrupted
time. It is worth noting that a comparative analysis with download activity patterns
in India reveals an interesting contrast. The research conducted by Singh et al. (2021a)
demonstrates that Indian scholars exhibit a higher average rate of download requests on

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weekdays in comparison to weekends. This discrepancy indicates a potential divergence

in the utilization of Sci-Hub between different countries. Factors such as distinct work
and study habits, as well as variations in the availability of alternative resources, could
contribute to these differing patterns.
The analysis reveals that Cairo governorate emerges as the primary hub for paper down-
loads from Sci-Hub in Egypt, mainly due to the presence of prestigious educational and
research institutions in the city. This pattern aligns with similar observations in other coun-
tries such as the United States, Europe (Bohannon, 2016b), India (Singh et al., 2021a),
and Russia (Moskovkin et al., 2021). These studies consistently reveal that Sci-Hub usage
tends to concentrate in regions with active academic researchers and major urban areas.
This phenomenon indicates a global trend where researchers, including those in Egypt,
access Sci-Hub more frequently in areas with established research communities, prestig-
ious academic institutions, and research centers. The concentration of Sci-Hub usage in
these regions can be attributed to the availability of resources, institutional subscriptions,
and well-equipped libraries, which contribute to a higher level of research activity and,
consequently, a greater reliance on Sci-Hub for accessing scholarly papers.
The observed preference of Egyptian researchers for downloading journal articles from
Sci-Hub, as evidenced by 82.36% of their total downloads, aligns with broader trends in
academic research. This trend is not unique to Egypt, as Andročec’s, 2017 study similarly
identified journal papers as the dominant resource for computer science downloads from
Sci-Hub, with conference proceedings and book chapters following. Moreover, Himmel-
stein et al.’s comprehensive (2018) study reinforced this pattern by revealing that Sci-Hub’s
extensive collection of 56.3 million articles featured a predominant focus on journal arti-
cles, constituting 90.6% of the collection. The consistency across these studies underlines
the global reliance on Sci-Hub for accessing scholarly content, particularly emphasizing
the pivotal role of journal articles in the research landscape. Researchers, both in Egypt
and internationally, appear to prioritize the accessibility of journal articles facilitated by
platforms like Sci-Hub, contributing to the broader discourse on open access and scholarly
communication.
Egyptian researchers showcase a notable leaning towards accessing recent papers,
particularly during the period from 2012 to 2017, showcasing their dedication to stay-
ing up-to-date with the latest research findings. This focus on recent publications aligns
with similar trends observed in other regions as well. For instance, a study by Singh et al.
(2021a) revealed that Indian researchers predominantly downloaded research papers from
the period of 2000 to 2016, indicating a shared interest among Indian scholars in access-
ing current research. Moreover, the pattern of prioritizing recent papers extends beyond
Egypt and India. Machin-Mastromatteo et al. (2016) conducted a study focused on Latin
America, which found that the majority of downloaded papers in the region were also very
recent. This finding further reinforces the notion that scholars from various geographical
areas share a common interest in accessing the most up-to-date research literature. The
preference for recent papers among scholars worldwide highlights the dynamic nature of
scholarly research and the significance of staying current with the latest advancements in
their respective fields. Rapid developments and breakthroughs are often published in recent
papers, making them crucial resources for researchers to incorporate cutting-edge informa-
tion into their own work.
The data reveals a significant concentration of academic literature downloads among
a select group of prominent publishers by Egyptian researchers from Sci-Hub. Notably,
IEEE, Elsevier, Wiley, and Springer stand out as the top players, collectively representing
a substantial portion of the downloaded papers. Interestingly, this pattern of preference for

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specific publishers is not unique to Egypt, as similar trends have been observed in other
regions as well. For instance, in India, researchers heavily rely on IEEE, Springer Nature,
Elsevier, and Wiley, accounting for a notable 60% of the total research papers downloaded
(Singh et al, 2021a). Similarly, in Latin America, Springer and Wiley Blackwell emerge as
the largest academic publishers with significant download numbers (Machin-Mastromatteo
et al., 2016). Additionally, in Russia, prominent publishers with high download numbers
include Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley Blackwell, American Chemical Society, and
IEEE (Moskovkin et al., 2021).
The consistency in the list of leading publishers across different countries underscores
the global influence and popularity of these publishing houses within Sci-Hub. One of
the contributing factors to this phenomenon is the high coverage rates of these publishers
on the Sci-Hub platform, as previously reported by Himmelstein et al. (2018). Remark-
ably, Elsevier boasts an impressive coverage rate of 96.9%, Springer Nature 89.7%, Wiley-
Blackwell 94.7%, and IEEE 98.6%. This extensive availability of content on Sci-Hub fur-
ther reinforces their prominence among scholars. In addition to the high coverage rates
mentioned earlier, several other factors contribute to the popularity of these publishers
within Sci-Hub. Firstly, they possess extensive journal portfolios that cover diverse subject
areas, providing researchers with a wide range of research articles to access. Moreover,
these publishers are renowned for their commitment to publishing high-quality research,
making their content highly sought after by scholars seeking reliable and reputable sources.
The analysis of the top 10 most downloaded papers by Egyptian researchers shows a
robust interest in diverse subjects, spanning various sources like journal articles, confer-
ence papers, book chapters, and books. The broad range of disciplines covered, including
engineering, medicine, and physics, reflects the scholars’ curiosity and multidisciplinary
approach to research. Their appreciation for both contemporary and older research demon-
strates a desire to explore knowledge from different time periods.
Egyptian researchers have accessed journal articles from a diverse range of 18,216 jour-
nals. Notably, the “Journal of the American Chemical Society” and the “Journal of Applied
Physics” are among the most popular choices, indicating a significant focus on chemical
and applied physics research among Egyptian researchers. Interestingly, a study revealed
that Indian researchers also share a preference for these same top journals, suggesting com-
mon research interests between the two countries (Singh et al., 2021a). One of the reasons
behind this widespread use of certain journals is the high coverage rates offered by Sci-
Hub, a platform that provides access to prestigious journals, as highlighted in a study by
Himmelstein et al. (2018). This further emphasizes the importance of Sci-Hub in facilitat-
ing access to scholarly literature for researchers, including Egyptian researchers who heav-
ily rely on it to access articles from reputable journals.
The top 10 most downloaded conferences and book series by Egyptian researchers
on Sci-Hub reveal a diverse research landscape across disciplines like power and energy,
antennas, vehicular technology, and healthcare. Spanning various coverage years, these
resources enable researchers to explore historical developments and track emerging trends,
fostering collaborative efforts and knowledge exchange among scholars with shared inter-
disciplinary interests.
The analysis of downloaded papers accessibility through the EKB reveals significant
disparities in accessing scholarly content. Among the top 10 downloaded journal arti-
cles, only three are accessible via the EKB, indicating a notable gap. A similar trend is
observed in conference papers, where just one out of the top 10 downloaded papers holds
EKB access. This suggests a lack of comprehensive coverage for high-demand materials.
A broader view reveals that 62.84% of 1604 examined journals are EKB-accessible, with

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Scientometrics

Science Direct, Wiley, and Springer being the dominant accessible publishers. However,
37.16% of journals remain beyond EKB’s reach. When analyzing 1420 conference papers,
a substantial 87.39% of those downloaded from Sci-Hub lack EKB access. In contrast, only
12.61% of conference papers offer EKB accessibility. Consequently, Egyptian researchers
heavily rely on Sci-Hub as an alternative source to access these papers. This issue raises
a red flag regarding the availability of essential research materials through official chan-
nels, emphasizing the need for the EKB to improve its collection and accessibility of jour-
nal articles and conference literature. Addressing this challenge would ensure that scholars
have proper access to high-quality research and support the advancement of knowledge
across various fields.
Interestingly, despite the availability of a wide range of journals through EKB, a signifi-
cant number of Egyptian researchers still prefer using Sci-Hub to download journal arti-
cles. This preference is not limited to geographic regions and has been observed among
individuals even at universities in the United States and Europe with library access to jour-
nals (Bohannon, 2016b). Convenience plays a pivotal role in this choice, as users find Sci-
Hub a convenient one-stop destination to retrieve articles, regardless of whether they are
available through open-access journals (Andročec, 2017). Moreover, other factors contrib-
uting to the preference for Sci-Hub include a lack of awareness regarding library services
and time constraints that hinder physical visits to the library (Pastor-Ramon et al., 2023).
These factors significantly influence researchers’ decisions to rely on Sci-Hub as a quick
and easily accessible resource.
The word cloud analysis of highly downloaded papers by Egyptian researchers offers a
snapshot of diverse and multidisciplinary research interests. Key themes include a strong
emphasis on systemic and established frameworks in energy-related domains, reflected in
terms like “systems,” “based,” “power,” and “energy.” Medical and healthcare research
emerges prominently, with a focus on treatments, diseases, and cancer-related studies.
Active engagement in communication technologies is evident through terms like “net-
works” and “5g,” showcasing researchers’ involvement in wireless communication and
technology challenges. Nanotechnology and material science themes, including “nanopar-
ticles” and “synthesis,” highlight a focus on innovative solutions, particularly in drug deliv-
ery and cancer research. The analysis suggests a dynamic research landscape with potential
for impactful and collaborative endeavors in various fields.

Conclusions

In this comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Sci-Hub downloads by Egyptian research-

ers in 2017, distinctive trends emerged, revealing unique usage patterns. The researchers
downloaded 1,357,526 papers, with peak activity during non-working hours, particularly
at night, and heightened demand on weekends, indicating a commitment to research dur-
ing leisure hours. Cairo governorate stood out as a focal point for downloads, aligning with
global trends in regions with established research communities. Researchers exhibited a
strong preference for journal articles, constituting 82.36% of total downloads, reflecting
a global emphasis on the significance of journals in scholarly work. The commitment to
accessing recent papers mirrored international trends among scholars. Key publishers like
IEEE, Elsevier, Wiley, and Springer dominated downloads, highlighting their global influ-
ence within the Sci-Hub platform. The top 10 downloaded papers showcased a diverse
research landscape, spanning engineering, medicine, and physics, indicative of scholars’

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multidisciplinary approach. Despite the availability of journals through the official EKB,
the persistent preference for Sci-Hub underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring proper
access to essential research materials. Further investigation is needed to understand the
reasons behind this preference. The word cloud analysis depicted collaborative research
interests across various domains, emphasizing the potential for impactful interdisciplinary
research endeavors in Egypt. Overall, the study contributes valuable insights into Sci-Hub
usage patterns in Egypt and underscores the need to address challenges in ensuring access
to high-quality research materials through official channels.

Limitations

The study faces a significant limitation due to reliance on Sci-Hub’s 2017 download log
file, introducing a temporal constraint. Although the dataset captures usage patterns for that
year comprehensively, the dynamic nature of academic research and evolving open-access
platforms suggest potential variations over time. Consequently, caution is advised in inter-
preting findings, highlighting the imperative of incorporating more recent data. This tem-
poral limitation may impact the accuracy of subscription suggestions based on the study,
urging researchers and stakeholders to exercise prudence in decision-making.

Future research

In this section, the study provides future research directions, addressing aspects not covered
in current research but highlighted by previous literatures. First and foremost, the litera-
ture highlights variations in gold–green and black open access for research output (Singh
et al., 2020). To enhance comprehension of scholarly communication in Egypt, it is crucial
to explore these variations within the context of Egyptian research. A second avenue of
exploration, identified in previous studies, centers on the impact of Sci-Hub on increasing
the visibility of research papers (Singh et al., 2021b). Building upon this, investigating Sci-
Hub’s impact on Egyptian research paper visibility is crucial. Lastly, an unexplored dimen-
sion in current research pertains to the use and perception of researchers toward Sci-Hub
and institutional platforms (Mejia et al., 2017; Pastor-Ramon et al., 2023). Focusing on
Egyptian researchers, future work could delve into their attitudes and practices concerning
Sci-Hub and the EKB. Such an inquiry holds the potential to offer valuable insights into
the scholarly information-seeking behaviors within the Egyptian academic community,
contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the academic landscape in the country.
Acknowledgements We extend our sincere gratitude to the diligent reviewers for their invaluable
contributions and insightful feedback that significantly enhanced the quality and rigor of this manuscript.
Their expertise and constructive comments have been instrumental in shaping the final version of this work.

Author contributions IRO conceptualized and designed the study, collected, and analyzed the bibliometric
data from Sci-Hub, and interpreted the results in the context of Egyptian scholarly activity. HAHA assisted
in collecting data, refining the research methodology, and contributed to the discussion of implications.
Both authors collaborated closely in drafting and revising the manuscript.

Funding Open access funding provided by The Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority
(STDF) in cooperation with The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB).

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Scientometrics

Declarations
Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest associated with this research study.

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