Best Universities for Anthropology 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 Anthropology. A graph of 1.55M citations received by 116K academic papers made by 258 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

#139 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

#173 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

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Anthropology

#5 in South Africa

#198 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

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Anthropology

#8 in South Africa

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Ghana

For Anthropology

#1 in Ghana

#335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

10. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Anthropology

#1 in Uganda

#345 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

#434 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. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Anthropology

#563 in the World

Founded: 1950

14. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Anthropology

#10 in South Africa

#570 in the World

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

15. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Anthropology

#2 in Ghana

#603 in the World

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

16. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Anthropology

#655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

17. Cairo University

For Anthropology

#1 in Egypt

#684 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

#724 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

19. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Anthropology

#1 in Kenya

#765 in the World

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

20. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Anthropology

#1 in Botswana

#802 in the World

Founded: 1964

21. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Anthropology

#12 in South Africa

#834 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

22. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Anthropology

#858 in the World

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

23. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Anthropology

#870 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

24. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Anthropology

#3 in Ghana

#894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

25. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Anthropology

#13 in South Africa

#909 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

26. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Anthropology

#922 in the World

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

27. University of Malawi

For Anthropology

#1 in Malawi

#954 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

28. Ain Shams University

For Anthropology

#2 in Egypt

#966 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

29. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Anthropology

#982 in the World

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

30. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Anthropology

#3 in Egypt

#984 in the World

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

31. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Anthropology

#1 in Zambia

#1002 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

32. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Anthropology

#1009 in the World

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

33. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Anthropology

#14 in South Africa

#1038 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

34. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Anthropology

#1101 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

#1133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

36. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Anthropology

#1151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

37. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Anthropology

#16 in South Africa

#1176 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

#1209 in the World

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

39. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Anthropology

#18 in South Africa

#1228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

40. University for Development Studies

For Anthropology

#4 in Ghana

#1230 in the World

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

41. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Anthropology

#4 in Egypt

#1238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

42. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Anthropology

#1255 in the World

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

43. University of Sfax

For Anthropology

#1260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

44. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Anthropology

#2 in Kenya

#1285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

45. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Anthropology

#1288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

46. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Anthropology

#3 in Kenya

#1293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

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. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Anthropology

#1345 in the World

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

49. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Anthropology

#2 in Uganda

#1353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

50. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Anthropology

#19 in South Africa

#1407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

51. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Anthropology

#1419 in the World

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

52. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Anthropology

#5 in Ghana

#1427 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

53. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Anthropology

#1466 in the World

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

54. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Anthropology

#1528 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

55. University of Namibia

Namibia | Windhoek

For Anthropology

#1550 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

56. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Anthropology

#1555 in the World

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

57. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Anthropology

#1568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

58. Covenant University

For Anthropology

#10 in Nigeria

#1585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

59. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Anthropology

#1603 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

60. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mthatha

For Anthropology

#20 in South Africa

#1609 in the World

Founded: 2005

61. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Anthropology

#1611 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

62. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Anthropology

#1627 in the World

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

63. University of Health and Allied Sciences

For Anthropology

#6 in Ghana

#1662 in the World

Founded: 2011

64. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Anthropology

#4 in Kenya

#1671 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

65. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Anthropology

#6 in Egypt

#1672 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

66. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Anthropology

#1717 in the World

67. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Anthropology

#1 in Mozambique

#1724 in the World

Founded: 1985

68. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Anthropology

#1 in Mauritius

#1730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

69. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Anthropology

#21 in South Africa

#1734 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

70. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Anthropology

#1775 in the World

71. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Anthropology

#22 in South Africa

#1827 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

72. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Anthropology

#11 in Nigeria

#1829 in the World

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

73. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Anthropology

#1 in Sudan

#1848 in the World

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

74. Assiut University

For Anthropology

#7 in Egypt

#1861 in the World

Founded: 1957

75. Bayero University Kano

For Anthropology

#12 in Nigeria

#1880 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

76. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Anthropology

#13 in Nigeria

#1881 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. Midlands State University

Zimbabwe | Gweru

For Anthropology

#1891 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 2000

78. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Anthropology

#1916 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1992

79. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Anthropology

#1932 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

80. Tanta University

For Anthropology

#8 in Egypt

#1938 in the World

Founded: 1972

81. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Anthropology

#9 in Egypt

#1956 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

82. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Anthropology

#10 in Egypt

#1978 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

83. Lagos State University

For Anthropology

#14 in Nigeria

#1999 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

84. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Anthropology

#15 in Nigeria

#2014 in the World

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

85. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Anthropology

#2021 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

86. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Anthropology

#2036 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

87. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

For Anthropology

#7 in Ghana

#2042 in the World

Founded: 1961

88. University of Uyo

For Anthropology

#16 in Nigeria

#2046 in the World

Founded: 1991

89. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Anthropology

#17 in Nigeria

#2065 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

90. Helwan University

For Anthropology

#11 in Egypt

#2074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

91. University of Professional Studies, Accra

For Anthropology

#8 in Ghana

#2116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 26,703
Founded: 1965

92. Namibia University of Science and Technology

Namibia | Windhoek

For Anthropology

#2139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1985

93. Al-Azhar University

For Anthropology

#12 in Egypt

#2163 in the World

Founded: 1961

94. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Anthropology

#2183 in the World

95. Central University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Anthropology

#23 in South Africa

#2206 in the World

Founded: 1981

96. University of Dodoma

Tanzania | Dodoma

For Anthropology

#2216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 28,949
Founded: 2007

97. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Anthropology

#2227 in the World

98. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Anthropology

#18 in Nigeria

#2236 in the World

Founded: 2000

99. Great Zimbabwe University

Zimbabwe | Masvingo

For Anthropology

#2239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 1999

100. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Anthropology

#2240 in the World

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Broadcast Journalism45

Classics and Ancient History111

Communications and Public Relations200

Criminology and Criminal Justice69

Early Childhood Education39

Education Majors236

Forensic Science55

Gender Studies117

Human Rights Law55

Intellectual Property and Patent Law23

International Law51

International Relations and Diplomacy28

Journalism and Digital Media70

Law Enforcement44

Library and Information science114

Media Studies59

Military science23

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution31

Occupational Safety and Health54

Political Economy68

Political Science363

Public Policy / Administration119

Radio and Television broadcasting67

Special Education26

Sports / Exercise science31

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies211

Urban and Regional planning43