Best Universities for Economics in Africa

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 5.99M citations received by 437K academic papers made by 351 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

#129 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Economics

#2 in South Africa

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#3 in South Africa

#204 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

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Economics

#5 in South Africa

#263 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#6 in South Africa

#297 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Economics

#7 in South Africa

#308 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. University of Ghana

For Economics

#1 in Ghana

#402 in the World

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

9. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Economics

#8 in South Africa

#444 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

10. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Economics

#482 in the World

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

11. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Economics

#1 in Uganda

#510 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

#567 in the World

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

13. Cairo University

For Economics

#1 in Egypt

#570 in the World

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

14. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Economics

#10 in South Africa

#596 in the World

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

15. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Economics

#600 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

16. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Economics

#649 in the World

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

17. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Economics

#1 in Kenya

#664 in the World

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

18. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Economics

#2 in Ghana

#737 in the World

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

19. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Economics

#750 in the World

Founded: 1950

20. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Economics

#791 in the World

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

21. University of Sfax

For Economics

#800 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

22. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Economics

#821 in the World

Founded: 1964

23. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Economics

#2 in Egypt

#863 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

24. Covenant University

For Economics

#873 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

25. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Economics

#11 in South Africa

#911 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

26. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Economics

#951 in the World

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

27. Ain Shams University

For Economics

#3 in Egypt

#977 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

28. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Economics

#3 in Ghana

#998 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

29. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Economics

#4 in Egypt

#1006 in the World

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

30. University of Malawi

For Economics

#1 in Malawi

#1052 in the World

Founded: 1964

31. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Economics

#1089 in the World

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

32. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Economics

#1093 in the World

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

33. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Economics

#1 in Zambia

#1111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

34. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Economics

#1125 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

35. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Economics

#12 in South Africa

#1128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

36. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Economics

#5 in Egypt

#1155 in the World

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

37. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Economics

#1160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

38. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Economics

#1168 in the World

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

39. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Economics

#13 in South Africa

#1175 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

40. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Economics

#1192 in the World

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

41. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Economics

#14 in South Africa

#1200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

42. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Economics

#1215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

43. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1218 in the World

44. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Economics

#6 in Egypt

#1231 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

45. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Economics

#2 in Kenya

#1241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

46. University for Development Studies

For Economics

#4 in Ghana

#1243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

47. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Economics

#1288 in the World

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

48. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Economics

#10 in Nigeria

#1312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

49. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1317 in the World

50. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Economics

#11 in Nigeria

#1322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

51. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Economics

#15 in South Africa

#1324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

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

#1329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

54. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Economics

#16 in South Africa

#1341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

55. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Economics

#1398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

56. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Economics

#12 in Nigeria

#1403 in the World

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

57. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Economics

#1418 in the World

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

58. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Economics

#1 in Mauritius

#1420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

59. Tanta University

For Economics

#7 in Egypt

#1469 in the World

Founded: 1972

60. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Economics

#17 in South Africa

#1477 in the World

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

61. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Economics

#13 in Nigeria

#1508 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

62. Helwan University

For Economics

#8 in Egypt

#1528 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

63. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Economics

#1569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

64. Lagos State University

For Economics

#14 in Nigeria

#1575 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

#1603 in the World

Founded: 2005

66. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Economics

#15 in Nigeria

#1637 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Economics

#1639 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

68. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Economics

#1643 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

69. Assiut University

For Economics

#9 in Egypt

#1658 in the World

Founded: 1957

70. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Economics

#1693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

71. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Economics

#16 in Nigeria

#1707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

72. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Economics

#18 in South Africa

#1708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

73. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Economics

#17 in Nigeria

#1726 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

74. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Economics

#10 in Egypt

#1762 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

75. Benha University

For Economics

#11 in Egypt

#1764 in the World

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

76. University of Uyo

For Economics

#18 in Nigeria

#1778 in the World

Founded: 1991

77. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Economics

#1809 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

78. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Economics

#1826 in the World

79. Bayero University Kano

For Economics

#19 in Nigeria

#1837 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

80. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Economics

#20 in Nigeria

#1854 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

81. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Economics

#21 in Nigeria

#1872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 130,000
Founded: 1999

82. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Economics

#1881 in the World

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

83. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Economics

#12 in Egypt

#1886 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

84. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Economics

#19 in South Africa

#1892 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

85. Al-Azhar University

For Economics

#13 in Egypt

#1934 in the World

Founded: 1961

86. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Economics

#14 in Egypt

#1937 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

87. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Economics

#22 in Nigeria

#1941 in the World

Founded: 2000

88. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Economics

#1992 in the World

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

89. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Economics

#1997 in the World

90. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

For Economics

#5 in Ghana

#2028 in the World

Founded: 1961

91. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Economics

#2037 in the World

Founded: 1993

92. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Economics

#2044 in the World

93. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Economics

#2 in Uganda

#2081 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

94. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Economics

#6 in Ghana

#2084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

95. Egerton University

For Economics

#5 in Kenya

#2086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

96. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Economics

#23 in Nigeria

#2089 in the World

Founded: 1975

97. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Economics

#20 in South Africa

#2102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

98. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Economics

#1 in Sudan

#2135 in the World

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

99. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Economics

#2140 in the World

Founded: 1918

100. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mthatha

For Economics

#21 in South Africa

#2142 in the World

Founded: 2005

Economics subfields in Africa

Actuarial Science37

Agricultural Economics115

Development Studies331

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics218

Environmental Economics73

International Economics55

International Relations and Diplomacy27

International Trade56

Investment Banking and Stock trading104

Political Economy67