Best Universities for Economics in Africa

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 3.57M citations received by 343K academic papers made by 338 universities in Africa was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Economics

#1 in South Africa

#122 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Economics

#2 in South Africa

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#3 in South Africa

#211 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Economics

#4 in South Africa

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Economics

#5 in South Africa

#280 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#6 in South Africa

#338 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Economics

#7 in South Africa

#365 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. University of Ghana

For Economics

#1 in Ghana

#451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 67,914
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1948

9. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Economics

#8 in South Africa

#494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 26,439
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 2004

10. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Economics

#542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

11. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Economics

#1 in Uganda

#553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1922

12. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Economics

#9 in South Africa

#579 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1904

13. Cairo University

For Economics

#1 in Egypt

#581 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 257,200
Founded: 1908

14. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Economics

#10 in South Africa

#614 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 24,754
Founded: 1959

15. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Economics

#700 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Founded: 1962

16. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Economics

#715 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

17. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Economics

#1 in Kenya

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1970

18. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Economics

#808 in the World

Founded: 1964

19. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Economics

#2 in Ghana

#822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 85,000
Founded: 1951

20. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Economics

#825 in the World

Founded: 1950

21. University of Sfax

For Economics

#858 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

22. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Economics

#11 in South Africa

#861 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

23. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Economics

#883 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1962

24. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Economics

#2 in Egypt

#895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

25. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Economics

#913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 18,040
Founded: 1955

26. Ain Shams University

For Economics

#3 in Egypt

#995 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

27. University of Malawi

For Economics

#1 in Malawi

#1007 in the World

Founded: 1964

28. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Economics

#4 in Egypt

#1014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 197,278
Founded: 1942

29. Covenant University

For Economics

#1015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

30. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Economics

#1089 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1970

31. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Economics

#5 in Egypt

#1132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 6,857
Founded: 1919

32. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Economics

#3 in Ghana

#1158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

33. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Economics

#1177 in the World

34. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Economics

#1 in Zambia

#1200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

35. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Economics

#12 in South Africa

#1208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

36. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1261 in the World

37. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Economics

#13 in South Africa

#1280 in the World

Founded: 1916

38. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Economics

#6 in Egypt

#1284 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

39. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Economics

#1309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

40. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1323 in the World

41. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#14 in South Africa

#1327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

42. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Economics

#15 in South Africa

#1329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

43. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Economics

#2 in Kenya

#1355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

44. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Economics

#1358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

45. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Economics

#1361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 49,103
Male:Female: 58:42
Founded: 1954

46. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Economics

#1 in Mauritius

#1393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

47. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Economics

#1398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1991

48. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Economics

#16 in South Africa

#1418 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 10,213
Founded: 2002

49. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Economics

#1422 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1975

50. University for Development Studies

For Economics

#4 in Ghana

#1431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

51. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Economics

#1439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

52. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Economics

#1455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 67,415

53. Tanta University

For Economics

#7 in Egypt

#1456 in the World

Founded: 1972

54. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Economics

#10 in Nigeria

#1474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 49,436
Founded: 1962

55. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Economics

#11 in Nigeria

#1533 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 17,672
Founded: 1981

56. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Economics

#17 in South Africa

#1541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

57. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Economics

#1558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 57,852
Founded: 2001

58. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Economics

#12 in Nigeria

#1572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

59. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Economics

#3 in Kenya

#1605 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

60. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Economics

#4 in Kenya

#1618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

61. Assiut University

For Economics

#8 in Egypt

#1635 in the World

Founded: 1957

62. Helwan University

For Economics

#9 in Egypt

#1647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

63. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1648 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

64. University of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone | Freetown

For Economics

#1 in Sierra Leone

#1721 in the World

Founded: 2005

65. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Economics

#1741 in the World

Enrollment: 16,315

66. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Economics

#1783 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

67. Benha University

For Economics

#10 in Egypt

#1789 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 88,016
Founded: 1976

68. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Economics

#11 in Egypt

#1818 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

69. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Economics

#18 in South Africa

#1825 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

70. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Economics

#1857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

71. Lagos State University

For Economics

#13 in Nigeria

#1870 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

72. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Economics

#1919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

73. Al-Azhar University

For Economics

#12 in Egypt

#1928 in the World

Founded: 1961

74. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Economics

#1954 in the World

Enrollment: 99,300

75. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Economics

#14 in Nigeria

#1975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

76. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Economics

#13 in Egypt

#1994 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

77. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Economics

#15 in Nigeria

#1995 in the World

Founded: 1992

78. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Economics

#2008 in the World

79. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Economics

#16 in Nigeria

#2012 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

80. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Economics

#2019 in the World

Enrollment: 29,703

81. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Economics

#19 in South Africa

#2020 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

82. Bayero University Kano

For Economics

#17 in Nigeria

#2034 in the World

Founded: 1975

83. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Economics

#1 in Mozambique

#2080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

84. University of Uyo

For Economics

#18 in Nigeria

#2095 in the World

Founded: 1991

85. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Economics

#2 in Uganda

#2103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

86. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

For Economics

#5 in Ghana

#2119 in the World

Founded: 1961

87. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Economics

#2129 in the World

Founded: 1918

88. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Economics

#14 in Egypt

#2146 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

89. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Economics

#19 in Nigeria

#2186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

90. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Economics

#1 in Sudan

#2191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 41,030
Founded: 1956

91. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Economics

#2203 in the World

Enrollment: 30,414
Male:Female: 75:25
Founded: 1976

92. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Economics

#2212 in the World

Enrollment: 98,720
Male:Female: 54:46

93. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Economics

#20 in Nigeria

#2220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

94. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Economics

#20 in South Africa

#2259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

95. Minia University

For Economics

#15 in Egypt

#2274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

96. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Economics

#2278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

97. University of Namibia

Namibia | Windhoek

For Economics

#2279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

98. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Economics

#2309 in the World

Founded: 1993

99. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Economics

#16 in Egypt

#2333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

100. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Economics

#21 in South Africa

#2352 in the World

Enrollment: 27,039
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 2005

Economics subfields in Africa

Actuarial Science27

Agricultural Economics92

Development Studies311

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics183

Environmental Economics58

International Economics41

International Relations and Diplomacy27

International Trade41

Investment Banking and Stock trading74

Political Economy48