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South Africa

Top research institutions in South Africa

University of Johannesburg ranks first in South Africa on research quality in 2022–2025 (#205 worldwide), followed by University of the Witwatersrand and University of South Africa.

Ranked by research quality, 2022–2025

#InstitutionWorld rankTop-10% rateWorksAll time
1University of JohannesburgUniversity · Johannesburg #205 26.4% 12,856 #4
2University of the WitwatersrandUniversity · Johannesburg #387 21.6% 8,505 #2
3University of South AfricaUniversity · Pretoria #470 23.7% 8,955 #7
4North-West UniversityUniversity · Potchefstroom #579 24.0% 5,803 #8
5University of Cape TownUniversity · Rondebosch #611 21.4% 6,614 #1
6University of PretoriaUniversity · Pretoria #691 20.4% 8,721 #3
7Stellenbosch UniversityUniversity · Stellenbosch #698 19.5% 7,719 #5
8University of KwaZulu-NatalUniversity · Durban #791 21.6% 7,528 #6
9University of the Free StateUniversity · Bloemfontein #1,158 22.8% 4,887 #9
10University of the Western CapeUniversity · Cape Town #1,519 22.8% 3,090 #11
11Durban University of TechnologyUniversity · Durban #1,680 20.5% 2,950 #16
12Tshwane University of TechnologyUniversity · Pretoria #1,904 18.8% 2,748 #14
13South African Medical Research CouncilInstitution · Cape Town #2,375 26.1% 1,002 #15
14Nelson Mandela UniversityUniversity · Port Elizabeth #2,458 19.8% 2,177 #17
15Walter Sisulu UniversityUniversity · Mthatha #2,669 22.1% 2,079 #30
16University of Fort HareUniversity · Alice #2,762 28.0% 1,358 #18
17Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences UniversityUniversity · Pretoria #2,898 17.3% 1,082 #32
18University of VendaUniversity · Thohoyandou #2,904 18.3% 1,381 #24
19University of ZululandUniversity · Empangeni #3,240 27.6% 1,099 #19
20University of LimpopoUniversity · Polokwane #3,327 16.1% 2,196 #26
21Rhodes UniversityUniversity · Grahamstown #3,946 20.6% 1,745 #13
22National Health Laboratory ServiceGovernment institution · Johannesburg #4,202 16.3% 542 #20
23Cape Town HVTN Immunology Laboratory / Hutchinson Centre Research Institute of South AfricaNonprofit · Cape Town #4,235 24.1% 263 #12
24Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyUniversity · Cape Town #4,597 19.1% 1,596 #23
25Vaal University of TechnologyUniversity · Vanderbijlpark #4,673 21.4% 796 #28
26Sustainability InstituteNonprofit · Stellenbosch #4,950 18.5% 736 #27
27Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchGovernment institution · Pretoria #5,346 19.3% 785 #10
28National Institute for Theoretical PhysicsResearch facility · Johannesburg #5,367 25.1% 201 #38
29University of MpumalangaUniversity · Mbombela #5,523 29.4% 458 #55
30National Research FoundationNonprofit · Pretoria #6,093 27.0% 191 #25
31Groote Schuur HospitalHospital / health system · Cape Town #6,306 15.2% 317 #21
32Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South AfricaInstitution · Durban #6,564 24.2% 119 #31
33MintekResearch facility · Johannesburg #6,759 13.6% 290 #34
34Africa Health Research InstituteResearch facility · Durban #7,468 27.5% 182 #43
35Central University of TechnologyUniversity · Bloemfontein #7,551 17.0% 951 #46
36Sol Plaatje UniversityUniversity · Kimberley #8,011 28.5% 383 #70
37Mangosuthu University of TechnologyUniversity · Durban #8,214 22.2% 478 #73
38South African Tuberculosis Vaccine InitiativeHospital / health system · Cape Town #8,534 37.2% 94 #35
39Western Cape Department of HealthGovernment institution · Cape Town #8,950 23.2% 358 #54
40Agricultural Research Council of South AfricaGovernment institution · Pretoria #9,060 23.2% 317 #65
41Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaResearch facility · Cape Town #9,682 28.7% 94 #41
42Human Sciences Research CouncilNonprofit · Pretoria #10,654 26.0% 331 #37
43Department of HealthGovernment institution · Pretoria #11,052 25.4% 257 #44
44iThemba LaboratoryResearch facility · Stellenbosch #11,427 13.5% 80 #36
45Desmond Tutu HIV FoundationNonprofit · Cape Town #11,642 27.2% 106 #42
46South African Radio Astronomy ObservatoryResearch facility · Cape Town #12,215 22.1% 140 #29
47Onderstepoort Veterinary InstituteResearch facility · Pretoria #12,696 24.8% 86 #50
48Red Cross War Memorial Children's HospitalHospital / health system · Cape Town #13,368 18.1% 133 #60
49Tygerberg HospitalHospital / health system · Cape Town #13,410 12.2% 210 #51
50African Institute for Mathematical SciencesUniversity · Cape Town #13,556 20.1% 110 #58
51Umkhuseli Innovation and Research ManagementNonprofit · Pietermaritzburg #13,913 23.5% 149 #57
52South African National Biodiversity InstituteResearch facility · Pretoria #14,911 19.8% 211 #47
53National MuseumArchive · Bloemfontein #15,157 14.4% 147 #45
54City of Cape TownGovernment institution · Cape Town #15,733 24.5% 111 #64
55Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic HospitalHospital / health system · Pretoria #15,764 19.6% 128 #68
56Lancet LaboratoriesResearch facility · Johannesburg #15,999 13.2% 123 #56
57Chris Hani Baragwanath HospitalHospital / health system · Johannesburg #16,190 9.8% 154 #63
58Eskom (South Africa)Company · Johannesburg #16,411 3.0% 643 #82
59Education Labour Relations CouncilGovernment institution · Centurion #16,766 17.7% 73 #80
60South African Environmental Observation NetworkResearch facility · Pretoria #16,804 21.4% 92 #71
61Johannesburg HospitalHospital / health system · Johannesburg #17,249 12.0% 146 #59
62South African Theological SeminaryUniversity · Johannesburg #17,322 14.5% 62 #129
63Scientific ServicesResearch facility · Cape Town #17,609 12.7% 126 #49
64South African Institute for Aquatic BiodiversityResearch facility · Grahamstown #18,030 17.2% 151 #95
65Right to CareNonprofit · Johannesburg #18,899 15.8% 127 #75
66Steve Biko HospitalHospital / health system · Pretoria #19,074 15.2% 107 #108
67Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentGovernment institution · Johannesburg #19,084 17.2% 91 #83
68The Independent Institute of EducationUniversity · Johannesburg #19,809 18.9% 193 #138
69Iziko Museums of South AfricaArchive · Cape Town #20,036 20.4% 60 #52
70Management College of Southern AfricaUniversity · Durban #20,497 21.4% 122 #115
71African Leadership InstituteUniversity · Roodepoort #20,794 7.3% 206 #105
72South African National ParksGovernment institution · Pretoria #21,886 18.7% 76 #69
73Research ICT AfricaNonprofit · Cape Town #22,134 14.9% 102 #125
74Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural DevelopmentGovernment institution · Pretoria #22,148 17.1% 62 #128
75South African National Space AgencyGovernment institution · Pretoria #22,186 7.7% 80 #109
76Government of South AfricaGovernment institution · Pretoria #23,462 14.9% 78 #104
77Transnet (South Africa)Company · Johannesburg #23,857 7.6% 69 #106
78Foundation for Professional DevelopmentNonprofit · Pretoria #24,662 13.1% 67 #119
79Institute of Natural ResourcesNonprofit · Pietermaritzburg #24,772 6.3% 82 #91
80Institute for Deciduous Fruit, Vines and WineGovernment institution · Stellenbosch #25,443 19.4% 64 #88
81South African Institute of International AffairsResearch facility · Johannesburg #26,022 3.6% 187 #133
82St. Mary’s HospitalHospital / health system · Durban #26,188 5.1% 63 #22
83Health & Medical Publishing GroupResearch facility · Cape Town #26,215 1.0% 231 #103
84Lyceum CollegeUniversity · Johannesburg #26,640 3.7% 178 #152
85Animal Production InstituteResearch facility · Pretoria #27,291 3.7% 101 #123
86Conversation AfricaNonprofit · Johannesburg #27,431 0.3% 141 #154
87Telkom (South Africa)Company · Centurion #27,836 8.0% 60 #147

Institutions above the volume floor, ranked within South Africa on the quality composite for 2022–2025; research measures only, not teaching. The tick on each rate track is the world’s rate in this record, 16.5% — teal above it, red below; bars are scaled to the largest institution on this page.

Size against quality inside South Africa

The upper left is the interesting corner: institutions that publish less than the national giants and land more of it in the world top 10%.

0%20%40%mean 18.323%fractional works (log) →share in the world top 10% →University of Johannesburg: 13k, 26.4%University of the Witwatersrand: 8,505, 21.6%University of South Africa: 8,955, 23.7%North-West University: 5,803, 24.0%University of Cape Town: 6,614, 21.4%University of Pretoria: 8,721, 20.4%Stellenbosch University: 7,719, 19.5%University of KwaZulu-Natal: 7,528, 21.6%University of the Free State: 4,887, 22.8%University of the Western Cape: 3,090, 22.8%Durban University of Technology: 2,950, 20.5%Tshwane University of Technology: 2,748, 18.8%South African Medical Research Council: 1,002, 26.1%Nelson Mandela University: 2,177, 19.8%Walter Sisulu University: 2,079, 22.1%University of Fort Hare: 1,358, 28.0%Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University: 1,082, 17.3%University of Venda: 1,381, 18.3%University of Zululand: 1,099, 27.6%University of Limpopo: 2,196, 16.1%Rhodes University: 1,745, 20.6%National Health Laboratory Service: 542, 16.3%Cape Town HVTN Immunology Laboratory / Hutchinson Centre Research Institute of South Africa: 263, 24.1%Cape Peninsula University of Technology: 1,596, 19.1%Vaal University of Technology: 796, 21.4%Sustainability Institute: 736, 18.5%Council for Scientific and Industrial Research: 785, 19.3%National Institute for Theoretical Physics: 201, 25.1%University of Mpumalanga: 458, 29.4%National Research Foundation: 191, 27.0%Groote Schuur Hospital: 317, 15.2%Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa: 119, 24.2%Mintek: 290, 13.6%Africa Health Research Institute: 182, 27.5%Central University of Technology: 951, 17.0%Sol Plaatje University: 383, 28.5%Mangosuthu University of Technology: 478, 22.2%South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative: 94, 37.2%Western Cape Department of Health: 358, 23.2%Agricultural Research Council of South Africa: 317, 23.2%Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa: 94, 28.7%Human Sciences Research Council: 331, 26.0%Department of Health: 257, 25.4%iThemba Laboratory: 80, 13.5%Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation: 106, 27.2%South African Radio Astronomy Observatory: 140, 22.1%Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute: 86, 24.8%Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital: 133, 18.1%Tygerberg Hospital: 210, 12.2%African Institute for Mathematical Sciences: 110, 20.1%Umkhuseli Innovation and Research Management: 149, 23.5%South African National Biodiversity Institute: 211, 19.8%National Museum: 147, 14.4%City of Cape Town: 111, 24.5%Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital: 128, 19.6%Lancet Laboratories: 123, 13.2%Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital: 154, 9.8%Eskom (South Africa): 643, 3.0%Education Labour Relations Council: 73, 17.7%South African Environmental Observation Network: 92, 21.4%Johannesburg Hospital: 146, 12.0%South African Theological Seminary: 62, 14.5%Scientific Services: 126, 12.7%South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity: 151, 17.2%Right to Care: 127, 15.8%Steve Biko Hospital: 107, 15.2%Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: 91, 17.2%The Independent Institute of Education: 193, 18.9%Iziko Museums of South Africa: 60, 20.4%Management College of Southern Africa: 122, 21.4%African Leadership Institute: 206, 7.3%South African National Parks: 76, 18.7%Research ICT Africa: 102, 14.9%Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: 62, 17.1%South African National Space Agency: 80, 7.7%Government of South Africa: 78, 14.9%Transnet (South Africa): 69, 7.6%Foundation for Professional Development: 67, 13.1%Institute of Natural Resources: 82, 6.3%Institute for Deciduous Fruit, Vines and Wine: 64, 19.4%South African Institute of International Affairs: 187, 3.6%St. Mary’s Hospital: 63, 5.1%Health & Medical Publishing Group: 231, 1.0%Lyceum College: 178, 3.7%Animal Production Institute: 101, 3.7%Conversation Africa: 141, 0.3%Telkom (South Africa): 60, 8.0%University of Johann…North-West UniversityUniversity of South …University of the Wi…
above the meannear itbelow it

One dot per institution in the table above.