Best Universities for Anthropology 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 Anthropology. A graph of 1.39M citations received by 112K academic papers made by 252 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 the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Anthropology

#1 in South Africa

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

2. University of Cape Town

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Anthropology

#2 in South Africa

#150 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Anthropology

#3 in South Africa

#176 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Anthropology

#4 in South Africa

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Anthropology

#5 in South Africa

#201 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

6. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Anthropology

#6 in South Africa

#235 in the World

Founded: 1918

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Anthropology

#7 in South Africa

#274 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Anthropology

#8 in South Africa

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Ghana

For Anthropology

#1 in Ghana

#344 in the World

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

10. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Anthropology

#1 in Uganda

#350 in the World

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

11. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Anthropology

#9 in South Africa

#439 in the World

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

12. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Anthropology

#546 in the World

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

13. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Anthropology

#10 in South Africa

#578 in the World

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

14. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Anthropology

#579 in the World

Founded: 1950

15. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Anthropology

#2 in Ghana

#618 in the World

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

16. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Anthropology

#657 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

17. Cairo University

For Anthropology

#1 in Egypt

#689 in the World

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

18. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Anthropology

#11 in South Africa

#720 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

19. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Anthropology

#1 in Kenya

#757 in the World

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

20. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Anthropology

#1 in Botswana

#794 in the World

Founded: 1964

21. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Anthropology

#12 in South Africa

#846 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

22. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Anthropology

#850 in the World

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

23. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Anthropology

#890 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

24. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Anthropology

#911 in the World

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

25. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Anthropology

#13 in South Africa

#915 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

26. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Anthropology

#3 in Ghana

#918 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

27. University of Malawi

For Anthropology

#1 in Malawi

#941 in the World

Founded: 1964

28. Ain Shams University

For Anthropology

#2 in Egypt

#968 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

29. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Anthropology

#980 in the World

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

30. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Anthropology

#3 in Egypt

#992 in the World

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

31. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Anthropology

#1 in Zambia

#1006 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

32. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Anthropology

#1011 in the World

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

33. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Anthropology

#14 in South Africa

#1056 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

34. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Anthropology

#1127 in the World

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

35. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Anthropology

#15 in South Africa

#1143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

36. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Anthropology

#1165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

37. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Anthropology

#16 in South Africa

#1201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

38. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Anthropology

#17 in South Africa

#1218 in the World

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

39. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Anthropology

#1227 in the World

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

40. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Anthropology

#1255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

41. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Anthropology

#4 in Egypt

#1257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

42. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Anthropology

#18 in South Africa

#1259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

43. University for Development Studies

For Anthropology

#4 in Ghana

#1261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

44. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Anthropology

#2 in Kenya

#1262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

45. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Anthropology

#3 in Kenya

#1277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

46. University of Sfax

For Anthropology

#1293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

47. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Anthropology

#5 in Egypt

#1321 in the World

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

48. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Anthropology

#2 in Uganda

#1335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

49. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Anthropology

#1393 in the World

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

50. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Anthropology

#19 in South Africa

#1398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

51. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Anthropology

#5 in Ghana

#1430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

52. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Anthropology

#1436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

53. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Anthropology

#1460 in the World

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

54. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Anthropology

#1541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

55. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Anthropology

#1560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

56. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Anthropology

#1562 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

57. University of Namibia

Namibia | Windhoek

For Anthropology

#1586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

58. Covenant University

For Anthropology

#10 in Nigeria

#1605 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

59. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Anthropology

#1626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

60. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Anthropology

#1638 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

61. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Anthropology

#4 in Kenya

#1654 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

62. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Anthropology

#6 in Egypt

#1663 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

63. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mthatha

For Anthropology

#20 in South Africa

#1673 in the World

Founded: 2005

64. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Anthropology

#1 in Mozambique

#1678 in the World

Founded: 1985

65. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Anthropology

#1 in Mauritius

#1702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

66. University of Health and Allied Sciences

For Anthropology

#6 in Ghana

#1710 in the World

Founded: 2011

67. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Anthropology

#1711 in the World

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

68. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Anthropology

#1720 in the World

69. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Anthropology

#11 in Nigeria

#1795 in the World

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

70. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Anthropology

#1799 in the World

71. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Anthropology

#21 in South Africa

#1808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

72. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Anthropology

#22 in South Africa

#1812 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

73. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Anthropology

#1 in Sudan

#1826 in the World

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

74. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Anthropology

#12 in Nigeria

#1856 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. Assiut University

For Anthropology

#7 in Egypt

#1860 in the World

Founded: 1957

76. Bayero University Kano

For Anthropology

#13 in Nigeria

#1872 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

77. Midlands State University

Zimbabwe | Gweru

For Anthropology

#1915 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 2000

78. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Anthropology

#1920 in the World

Founded: 1992

79. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Anthropology

#8 in Egypt

#1929 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

80. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Anthropology

#1941 in the World

Founded: 1918

81. Tanta University

For Anthropology

#9 in Egypt

#1944 in the World

Founded: 1972

82. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Anthropology

#10 in Egypt

#1966 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

83. Lagos State University

For Anthropology

#14 in Nigeria

#1989 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

84. University of Uyo

For Anthropology

#15 in Nigeria

#2018 in the World

Founded: 1991

85. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Anthropology

#16 in Nigeria

#2035 in the World

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

86. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Anthropology

#2036 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

87. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Anthropology

#2040 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

88. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

For Anthropology

#7 in Ghana

#2064 in the World

Founded: 1961

89. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Anthropology

#17 in Nigeria

#2070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

90. Helwan University

For Anthropology

#11 in Egypt

#2084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

91. Namibia University of Science and Technology

Namibia | Windhoek

For Anthropology

#2120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1985

92. University of Professional Studies, Accra

For Anthropology

#8 in Ghana

#2151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

93. Al-Azhar University

For Anthropology

#12 in Egypt

#2164 in the World

Founded: 1961

94. Central University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Anthropology

#23 in South Africa

#2214 in the World

Founded: 1981

95. Great Zimbabwe University

Zimbabwe | Masvingo

For Anthropology

#2225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 1999

96. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Anthropology

#18 in Nigeria

#2239 in the World

Founded: 2000

97. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Anthropology

#2251 in the World

98. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Anthropology

#19 in Nigeria

#2252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

99. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Anthropology

#20 in Nigeria

#2270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

100. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Anthropology

#2298 in the World

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Broadcast Journalism45

Classics and Ancient History100

Communications and Public Relations195

Criminology and Criminal Justice64

Early Childhood Education39

Education Majors230

Forensic Science53

Gender Studies116

Human Rights Law56

Intellectual Property and Patent Law23

International Law50

International Relations and Diplomacy27

Journalism and Digital Media69

Law Enforcement41

Library and Information science112

Media Studies53

Military science22

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution31

Occupational Safety and Health54

Political Economy67

Political Science364

Public Policy / Administration115

Radio and Television broadcasting66

Special Education27

Sports / Exercise science29

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies207

Urban and Regional planning39