Best Universities for Economics in Africa

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 6.48M citations received by 455K academic papers made by 354 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 Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Economics

#1 in South Africa

#125 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Economics

#2 in South Africa

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#3 in South Africa

#201 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Economics

#4 in South Africa

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Economics

#5 in South Africa

#256 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Economics

#6 in South Africa

#286 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#7 in South Africa

#294 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

8. University of Ghana

For Economics

#1 in Ghana

#395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

9. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Economics

#8 in South Africa

#431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

10. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Economics

#477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 41,269
Founded: 1948

11. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Economics

#1 in Uganda

#504 in the World

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

12. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Economics

#9 in South Africa

#562 in the World

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

13. Cairo University

For Economics

#1 in Egypt

#568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 207,853
Founded: 1908

14. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Economics

#585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

15. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Economics

#10 in South Africa

#586 in the World

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

16. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Economics

#646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Enrollment: 32,480
Founded: 1962

17. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Economics

#1 in Kenya

#663 in the World

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

18. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Economics

#2 in Ghana

#702 in the World

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

19. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Economics

#732 in the World

Founded: 1950

20. University of Sfax

For Economics

#780 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

21. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Economics

#788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 48,680
Founded: 1962

22. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Economics

#828 in the World

Founded: 1964

23. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Economics

#2 in Egypt

#853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

24. Covenant University

For Economics

#868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

25. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Economics

#11 in South Africa

#908 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

26. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Economics

#3 in Ghana

#967 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

27. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Economics

#971 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 20,399
Founded: 1955

28. Ain Shams University

For Economics

#3 in Egypt

#977 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

29. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Economics

#4 in Egypt

#1003 in the World

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

30. University of Malawi

For Economics

#1 in Malawi

#1063 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

31. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Economics

#1084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1991

32. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Economics

#1096 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 45,155
Founded: 1970

33. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Economics

#12 in South Africa

#1100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

34. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Economics

#1107 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

35. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Economics

#1 in Zambia

#1109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

36. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Economics

#1124 in the World

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

37. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Economics

#13 in South Africa

#1154 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

38. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Economics

#1158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

39. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Economics

#1165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 40,645
Founded: 1975

40. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Economics

#5 in Egypt

#1167 in the World

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

41. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Economics

#14 in South Africa

#1186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

42. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Economics

#1192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

43. University for Development Studies

For Economics

#4 in Ghana

#1198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 13,132
Founded: 1992

44. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1202 in the World

45. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Economics

#6 in Egypt

#1205 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

46. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Economics

#2 in Kenya

#1245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

47. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Economics

#1277 in the World

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

48. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Economics

#15 in South Africa

#1278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

49. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1302 in the World

50. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#16 in South Africa

#1313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

51. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Economics

#10 in Nigeria

#1323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

52. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Economics

#3 in Kenya

#1327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

53. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Economics

#4 in Kenya

#1331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

54. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Economics

#11 in Nigeria

#1339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

55. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Economics

#1368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 2001

56. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Economics

#1370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

57. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Economics

#12 in Nigeria

#1390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 23,100
Founded: 1981

58. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Economics

#1 in Mauritius

#1412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

59. Tanta University

For Economics

#7 in Egypt

#1445 in the World

Founded: 1972

60. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Economics

#17 in South Africa

#1456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Enrollment: 35,047
Founded: 2005

61. Helwan University

For Economics

#8 in Egypt

#1492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

62. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Economics

#13 in Nigeria

#1515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

63. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Economics

#1523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

64. Lagos State University

For Economics

#14 in Nigeria

#1578 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

65. University of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Flag

Sierra Leone | Freetown

For Economics

#1 in Sierra Leone

#1595 in the World

Founded: 2005

66. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1616 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

67. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Economics

#1624 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

68. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Economics

#15 in Nigeria

#1633 in the World

Founded: 1992

69. Assiut University

For Economics

#9 in Egypt

#1660 in the World

Founded: 1957

70. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Economics

#18 in South Africa

#1693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

71. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Economics

#1702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Enrollment: 17,030
Founded: 1991

72. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Economics

#16 in Nigeria

#1707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

73. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Economics

#17 in Nigeria

#1713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

74. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Economics

#10 in Egypt

#1756 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

75. Benha University

For Economics

#11 in Egypt

#1762 in the World

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

76. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Economics

#1769 in the World

77. University of Uyo

For Economics

#18 in Nigeria

#1787 in the World

Founded: 1991

78. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Economics

#1802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

79. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Economics

#1810 in the World

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

80. Bayero University Kano

For Economics

#19 in Nigeria

#1820 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

81. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Economics

#19 in South Africa

#1850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

82. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Economics

#20 in Nigeria

#1852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

83. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Economics

#21 in Nigeria

#1868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

84. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Economics

#12 in Egypt

#1885 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

85. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Economics

#1930 in the World

86. Al-Azhar University

For Economics

#13 in Egypt

#1932 in the World

Founded: 1961

87. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Economics

#14 in Egypt

#1938 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

88. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Economics

#1943 in the World

Founded: 1993

89. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Economics

#22 in Nigeria

#1954 in the World

Founded: 2000

90. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Economics

#1962 in the World

91. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

For Economics

#5 in Ghana

#2000 in the World

Founded: 1961

92. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mthatha

For Economics

#20 in South Africa

#2015 in the World

Founded: 2005

93. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Economics

#2017 in the World

94. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Economics

#6 in Ghana

#2043 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

95. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Economics

#2 in Uganda

#2072 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

96. Egerton University

For Economics

#5 in Kenya

#2077 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

97. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Economics

#23 in Nigeria

#2078 in the World

Founded: 1975

98. Minia University

For Economics

#15 in Egypt

#2088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

99. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Economics

#21 in South Africa

#2104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

100. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Economics

#1 in Sudan

#2132 in the World

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

Economics subfields in Africa

Actuarial Science38

Agricultural Economics120

Development Studies333

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics225

Environmental Economics75

International Economics57

International Relations and Diplomacy28

International Trade59

Investment Banking and Stock trading106

Political Economy68