This study is based on the abstracts published in Physics Abstracts (Science Abstracts, Section A) in 1938 and 1948. In 1938 the twelve countries credited with the most abstracts ranked as follows: United States, Germany, France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, Japan, Netherlands, Italy, India, Poland, Switzerland, and Canada. In 1948 the standings of the leading twelve were: United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands, Soviet Union, India, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Austria, and Switzerland.
India and Japan in 1938, and India alone in 1948, were the only countries outside of Europe and North America with an appreciable number of abstracts. Less than half of the countries in the world publish the results of physical research.
The emigration of physicists and economic conditions may account for the decline of published articles in many countries.
