Best Universities for Demography 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 Demography. A graph of 5.78M citations received by 274K academic papers made by 324 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 Demography

#1 in South Africa

#112 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Demography

#2 in South Africa

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Demography

#3 in South Africa

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Demography

#4 in South Africa

#205 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Demography

#5 in South Africa

#235 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

6. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Demography

#1 in Uganda

#300 in the World

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

7. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Demography

#306 in the World

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

8. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Demography

#358 in the World

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

9. University of Ghana

For Demography

#1 in Ghana

#374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

10. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Demography

#380 in the World

Founded: 1950

11. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Demography

#1 in Kenya

#445 in the World

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

12. Cairo University

For Demography

#1 in Egypt

#468 in the World

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

13. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Demography

#500 in the World

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

14. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Demography

#527 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

15. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Demography

#6 in South Africa

#535 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

16. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Demography

#577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

17. Ain Shams University

For Demography

#2 in Egypt

#606 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

18. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Demography

#2 in Ghana

#608 in the World

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

19. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Demography

#7 in South Africa

#624 in the World

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

20. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Demography

#8 in South Africa

#634 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

21. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Demography

#662 in the World

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

22. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Demography

#9 in South Africa

#667 in the World

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

23. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Demography

#674 in the World

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

24. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Demography

#10 in South Africa

#691 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

25. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Demography

#3 in Egypt

#715 in the World

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

26. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Demography

#724 in the World

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

27. University of Malawi

For Demography

#1 in Malawi

#744 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

28. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Demography

#750 in the World

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

29. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Demography

#3 in Ghana

#761 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

30. University of Yaounde I

Cameroon | Yaounde

For Demography

#779 in the World

Founded: 1962

31. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Demography

#4 in Egypt

#780 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

32. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Demography

#11 in South Africa

#796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

33. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Demography

#1 in Zambia

#800 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

34. Assiut University

For Demography

#5 in Egypt

#806 in the World

Founded: 1957

35. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Demography

#2 in Kenya

#813 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

36. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Demography

#824 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

37. University of Abomey-Calavi

Benin | Abomey-Calavi

For Demography

#1 in Benin

#827 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1970

38. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Demography

#883 in the World

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

39. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Demography

#890 in the World

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

40. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Demography

#3 in Kenya

#895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

41. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Demography

#12 in South Africa

#898 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

42. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Demography

#938 in the World

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

43. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Demography

#942 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

44. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Demography

#961 in the World

Founded: 1964

45. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Demography

#976 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

46. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Demography

#1005 in the World

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

47. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Demography

#13 in South Africa

#1027 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

48. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Demography

#1064 in the World

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

49. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Demography

#4 in Kenya

#1079 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

50. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Demography

#10 in Nigeria

#1081 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

51. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Demography

#1104 in the World

52. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Demography

#6 in Egypt

#1125 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

53. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Demography

#1 in Sudan

#1129 in the World

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

54. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Demography

#1149 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

55. Bayero University Kano

For Demography

#11 in Nigeria

#1180 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

56. Arba Minch University

Ethiopia | Arba Minch

For Demography

#1183 in the World

Enrollment: 37,433
Founded: 1986

57. University for Development Studies

For Demography

#4 in Ghana

#1186 in the World

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

58. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Demography

#1192 in the World

59. Debre Markos University

Ethiopia | Debre Markos

For Demography

#1202 in the World

Founded: 2005

60. Al-Azhar University

For Demography

#7 in Egypt

#1222 in the World

Founded: 1961

61. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Demography

#1237 in the World

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

62. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Demography

#1242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

63. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Demography

#2 in Uganda

#1270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

64. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Demography

#12 in Nigeria

#1277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

65. Tanta University

For Demography

#8 in Egypt

#1291 in the World

Founded: 1972

66. University of Kinshasa

DR Congo | Kinshasa

For Demography

#1 in the DR Congo

#1297 in the World

Founded: 1954

67. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Demography

#14 in South Africa

#1319 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

68. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Demography

#9 in Egypt

#1338 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

69. Covenant University

For Demography

#13 in Nigeria

#1350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

70. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Demography

#1359 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1992

71. University of Health and Allied Sciences

For Demography

#5 in Ghana

#1371 in the World

Founded: 2011

72. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Demography

#14 in Nigeria

#1376 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

73. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Demography

#10 in Egypt

#1380 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

74. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Demography

#15 in Nigeria

#1411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

75. Lagos State University

For Demography

#16 in Nigeria

#1438 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

76. University of Sfax

For Demography

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

77. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Demography

#1 in Mozambique

#1446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

78. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Demography

#15 in South Africa

#1448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

79. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Demography

#1490 in the World

80. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Demography

#17 in Nigeria

#1491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1990

81. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Demography

#18 in Nigeria

#1496 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

82. Debre Berhan University

Ethiopia | Debre Berhan

For Demography

#10 in Ethiopia

#1500 in the World

Founded: 2007

83. Minia University

For Demography

#11 in Egypt

#1503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

84. Wollega University

Ethiopia | Nekemte

For Demography

#11 in Ethiopia

#1505 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2007

85. University of Jos

For Demography

#19 in Nigeria

#1510 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

86. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Demography

#1522 in the World

87. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Demography

#20 in Nigeria

#1528 in the World

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

88. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Demography

#1 in Mauritius

#1556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

89. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Demography

#1557 in the World

90. Mizan Tepi University

Ethiopia | Mizan

For Demography

#12 in Ethiopia

#1559 in the World

Founded: 2006

91. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Demography

#1571 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

92. University of Douala

Cameroon | Douala

For Demography

#1577 in the World

Founded: 1977

93. Benha University

For Demography

#12 in Egypt

#1587 in the World

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

94. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Demography

#16 in South Africa

#1588 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

95. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Demography

#21 in Nigeria

#1594 in the World

Founded: 1992

96. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Demography

#1598 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

97. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Demography

#22 in Nigeria

#1607 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

98. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Demography

#23 in Nigeria

#1671 in the World

Founded: 2000

99. University of Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso Flag

Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou

For Demography

#1 in Burkina Faso

#1674 in the World

Enrollment: 44,860
Founded: 1974

100. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Demography

#1700 in the World

Founded: 1993

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Anthropology258

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