Best Universities for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 8.58M citations received by 588K academic papers made by 359 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 Sociology

#1 in South Africa

#152 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Sociology

#2 in South Africa

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Sociology

#3 in South Africa

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

4. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Sociology

#4 in South Africa

#245 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Sociology

#5 in South Africa

#258 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Sociology

#6 in South Africa

#318 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Sociology

#7 in South Africa

#417 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Sociology

#8 in South Africa

#456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Sociology

#483 in the World

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

10. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Sociology

#1 in Uganda

#499 in the World

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

11. University of Ghana

For Sociology

#1 in Ghana

#544 in the World

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

12. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Sociology

#9 in South Africa

#583 in the World

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

13. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Sociology

#10 in South Africa

#605 in the World

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

14. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Sociology

#665 in the World

Founded: 1950

15. Cairo University

For Sociology

#1 in Egypt

#702 in the World

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

16. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Sociology

#1 in Kenya

#714 in the World

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

17. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Sociology

#755 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

18. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Sociology

#11 in South Africa

#776 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

19. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Sociology

#780 in the World

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

20. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Sociology

#820 in the World

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

21. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Sociology

#840 in the World

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

22. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Sociology

#2 in Ghana

#898 in the World

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

23. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Sociology

#937 in the World

Founded: 1964

24. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Sociology

#954 in the World

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

25. Ain Shams University

For Sociology

#2 in Egypt

#965 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

26. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Sociology

#999 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

27. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Sociology

#1001 in the World

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

28. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Sociology

#1036 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

29. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Sociology

#3 in Ghana

#1041 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

30. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Sociology

#3 in Egypt

#1078 in the World

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

31. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Sociology

#12 in South Africa

#1101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

32. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Sociology

#1114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

33. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Sociology

#13 in South Africa

#1165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

34. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Sociology

#1 in Zambia

#1194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

35. University of Malawi

For Sociology

#1 in Malawi

#1203 in the World

Founded: 1964

36. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Sociology

#1206 in the World

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

37. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Sociology

#4 in Egypt

#1210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

38. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Sociology

#1266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

39. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Sociology

#1269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

40. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Sociology

#2 in Kenya

#1312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

41. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Sociology

#1321 in the World

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

42. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Sociology

#14 in South Africa

#1328 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

43. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Sociology

#1368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

44. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Sociology

#1377 in the World

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

45. Assiut University

For Sociology

#5 in Egypt

#1401 in the World

Founded: 1957

46. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Sociology

#1 in Mozambique

#1420 in the World

Founded: 1985

47. University of Sfax

For Sociology

#1421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

48. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Sociology

#1431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

49. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Sociology

#1440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

50. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Sociology

#3 in Kenya

#1453 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

51. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Sociology

#15 in South Africa

#1493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

52. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Sociology

#10 in Nigeria

#1499 in the World

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

53. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Sociology

#1506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

54. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Sociology

#4 in Kenya

#1507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

55. Covenant University

For Sociology

#11 in Nigeria

#1559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

56. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Sociology

#6 in Egypt

#1569 in the World

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

57. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Sociology

#16 in South Africa

#1599 in the World

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

58. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Sociology

#1606 in the World

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

59. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Sociology

#12 in Nigeria

#1617 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

60. University for Development Studies

For Sociology

#4 in Ghana

#1672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

61. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Sociology

#7 in Egypt

#1680 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

62. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Sociology

#17 in South Africa

#1686 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

63. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Sociology

#13 in Nigeria

#1693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

64. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Sociology

#1714 in the World

65. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Sociology

#5 in Ghana

#1737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

66. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Sociology

#1743 in the World

67. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Sociology

#18 in South Africa

#1746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

68. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Sociology

#19 in South Africa

#1754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

69. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Sociology

#1810 in the World

Founded: 1918

70. Lagos State University

For Sociology

#14 in Nigeria

#1866 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

71. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Sociology

#1 in Sudan

#1892 in the World

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

72. Bayero University Kano

For Sociology

#15 in Nigeria

#1898 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

73. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Sociology

#1909 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

74. Tanta University

For Sociology

#8 in Egypt

#1927 in the World

Founded: 1972

75. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Sociology

#16 in Nigeria

#1967 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. Al-Azhar University

For Sociology

#9 in Egypt

#1979 in the World

Founded: 1961

77. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Sociology

#1 in Mauritius

#1987 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

78. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Sociology

#10 in Egypt

#1993 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

79. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Sociology

#2000 in the World

Founded: 1992

80. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Sociology

#11 in Egypt

#2008 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

81. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Sociology

#2 in Mozambique

#2044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

82. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Sociology

#2046 in the World

83. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Sociology

#17 in Nigeria

#2052 in the World

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

84. University of Uyo

For Sociology

#18 in Nigeria

#2054 in the World

Founded: 1991

85. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Sociology

#19 in Nigeria

#2059 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

86. University of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Flag

Sierra Leone | Freetown

For Sociology

#1 in Sierra Leone

#2084 in the World

Founded: 2005

87. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Sociology

#2 in Uganda

#2094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

88. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Sociology

#20 in Nigeria

#2098 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

89. Helwan University

For Sociology

#12 in Egypt

#2108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

90. University of Namibia

Namibia | Windhoek

For Sociology

#2115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

91. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Sociology

#21 in Nigeria

#2118 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

92. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Sociology

#2127 in the World

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

93. University of Dodoma

Tanzania | Dodoma

For Sociology

#2169 in the World

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

94. Arba Minch University

Ethiopia | Arba Minch

For Sociology

#2171 in the World

Enrollment: 37,433
Founded: 1986

95. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Sociology

#2202 in the World

96. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Sociology

#22 in Nigeria

#2217 in the World

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

97. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Sociology

#23 in Nigeria

#2221 in the World

Founded: 2000

98. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mthatha

For Sociology

#20 in South Africa

#2222 in the World

Founded: 2005

99. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Sociology

#2238 in the World

100. University of Jos

For Sociology

#24 in Nigeria

#2246 in the World

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Anthropology252

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