Domain · Social Sciences · South Africa
Social Sciences research in South Africa
University of Johannesburg ranks first in South Africa for Social Sciences research in 2022–2025 (#9 worldwide), followed by University of South Africa and North-West University.
- South Africa's world rank
- #14 of 164 countries, 2022–2025
- Works, 2022–2025
- 45k
- Top-10% rate
- 25.7%
- Ranked institutions
- 40
Research strength only: this says nothing about teaching, admissions or cost.
What is the best university for Social Sciences in South Africa?
| # | Institution | World rank | Score | Top-10% rate | Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of JohannesburgJohannesburg | #9 | 76.3 | 31.2% | 5,821 |
| 2 | University of South AfricaPretoria | #23 | 66.1 | 26.1% | 5,037 |
| 3 | North-West UniversityPotchefstroom | #84 | 52.2 | 27.4% | 2,881 |
| 4 | University of the WitwatersrandJohannesburg | #85 | 52.0 | 28.0% | 3,107 |
| 5 | University of PretoriaPretoria | #90 | 51.4 | 23.2% | 3,815 |
| 6 | Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch | #104 | 49.8 | 23.7% | 2,681 |
| 7 | University of Cape TownRondebosch | #182 | 43.8 | 28.3% | 2,219 |
| 8 | University of the Free StateBloemfontein | #260 | 40.0 | 26.2% | 2,518 |
| 9 | University of KwaZulu-NatalDurban | #486 | 33.2 | 24.2% | 2,390 |
| 10 | University of the Western CapeCape Town | #598 | 31.0 | 25.8% | 1,467 |
| 11 | Nelson Mandela UniversityPort Elizabeth | #612 | 30.7 | 25.7% | 981 |
| 12 | Walter Sisulu UniversityMthatha | #687 | 29.5 | 24.1% | 1,206 |
| 13 | Durban University of TechnologyDurban | #701 | 29.2 | 23.3% | 1,146 |
| 14 | Tshwane University of TechnologyPretoria | #887 | 26.7 | 25.0% | 962 |
| 15 | University of ZululandEmpangeni | #924 | 26.3 | 30.8% | 599 |
| 16 | University of VendaThohoyandou | #1,016 | 25.2 | 21.3% | 643 |
| 17 | University of LimpopoPolokwane | #1,176 | 23.7 | 19.4% | 918 |
| 18 | Vaal University of TechnologyVanderbijlpark | #1,247 | 23.0 | 31.0% | 349 |
| 19 | Rhodes UniversityGrahamstown | #1,375 | 22.0 | 25.5% | 711 |
| 20 | University of Fort HareAlice | #1,466 | 21.3 | 29.5% | 603 |
| 21 | Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCape Town | #1,636 | 20.1 | 26.5% | 568 |
| 22 | University of MpumalangaMbombela | #1,784 | 19.2 | 31.4% | 209 |
| 23 | South African Medical Research CouncilCape Town | #2,385 | 16.0 | 31.0% | 204 |
| 24 | Sol Plaatje UniversityKimberley | #2,463 | 15.7 | 33.3% | 214 |
| 25 | Central University of TechnologyBloemfontein | #2,944 | 13.8 | 21.5% | 448 |
| 26 | Sustainability InstituteStellenbosch | #3,002 | 13.5 | 18.7% | 244 |
| 27 | National MuseumBloemfontein | #3,885 | 10.8 | 17.2% | 73 |
| 28 | Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences UniversityPretoria | #4,085 | 10.2 | 20.1% | 212 |
| 29 | Human Sciences Research CouncilPretoria | #4,270 | 9.7 | 26.3% | 209 |
| 30 | Mangosuthu University of TechnologyDurban | #4,666 | 8.8 | 24.8% | 172 |
| 31 | The Independent Institute of EducationJohannesburg | #5,654 | 6.7 | 21.0% | 127 |
| 32 | Management College of Southern AfricaDurban | #5,748 | 6.5 | 21.4% | 94 |
| 33 | Western Cape Department of HealthCape Town | #7,825 | 3.2 | 30.9% | 62 |
| 34 | Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchPretoria | #8,160 | 2.7 | 21.4% | 79 |
| 35 | Eskom (South Africa)Johannesburg | #9,105 | 1.6 | 6.3% | 152 |
| 36 | African Leadership InstituteRoodepoort | #9,647 | 94.0 | 4.5% | 112 |
| 37 | Lyceum CollegeJohannesburg | #10,115 | 42.0 | 5.0% | 100 |
| 38 | South African Institute of International AffairsJohannesburg | #10,164 | 37.0 | 2.4% | 150 |
| 39 | Health & Medical Publishing GroupCape Town | #10,390 | 14.0 | 1.0% | 111 |
| 40 | Conversation AfricaJohannesburg | #10,460 | 6.0 | 0.4% | 96 |
Institutions in South Africa above the floor of 40 fractional works in Social Sciences, ordered by their worldwide rank on research quality, 2022–2025.
Who are the top Social Sciences researchers in South Africa?
Dan J. Stein, Christian M. Rogerson and Rangan Gupta rank highest among researchers based in South Africa.
- 1Dan J. Stein#1,863 worldwide overall7.7k citations · 266 works
- 2Christian M. Rogerson#113,523 worldwide overall538 citations · 158 works
- 3Rangan Gupta#493,694 worldwide overall1.3k citations · 395 works
- 4Henning Melber#542,272 worldwide overall75 citations · 119 works
- 5Clinton Aigbavboa#795,690 worldwide overall281 citations · 178 works
- 6Yusef Waghid#902,997 worldwide overall69 citations · 119 works
- 7Christoph Stenschke#941,498 worldwide overall12 citations · 178 works
- 8Christopher Saunders#963,113 worldwide overall56 citations · 118 works
- 9Karen Thomas#1,246,703 worldwide overall2 citations · 123 works
- 10Eliphas Ndou#1,264,166 worldwide overall18 citations · 143 works
- 11Yves T’Sjoen#1,299,053 worldwide overall1 citations · 115 works
- 12Robert Schumann#1,328,784 worldwide overall1 citations · 140 works
- 13Editorial Office#1,354,442 worldwide overall2 citations · 328 works
- 14Nombulelo Gumata#1,355,087 worldwide overall7 citations · 114 works
How South Africa compares with other countries in Social Sciences