Which universities in Africa are the best? Who are the top global universities in Africa? The following is a list of 69 top universities which made it to the world university rankings compiled by the Times Higher Education World Rankings for 2023

This year’s league table, which is trusted globally by students, instructors, governments, and industry professionals, shows post Covid-19 shifts in Africa’s higher education achievement.

The University of Cape Town tops the list as usual, an the surprising new entrant from last year, the University of Cape Coast is again at 4th position.

From the information that we are provided by institutions across the globe,the Times Higher Education rigorously builds up these rankings. This is how we assess data on more than 1,600 institutions to produce the tables

Africa Rank	World Ranking	University	Country	Number of Full-time Equivalent Students	Number of Students per staff	International Students	Female : Male Ratio
1	160	University of Cape Town	South Africa	21,069	12.8	15%	54 : 46
2	251–300	Stellenbosch University	South Africa	24,907	25.9	8%	56 : 44
2	251–300	University of the Witwatersrand	South Africa	26,871	23.6	7%	56 : 44
2	351–400	University of Cape Coast	Ghana	28,451	35.5	0%	33 : 67
5	401–500	Ferhat Abbas Sétif University 1	Algeria	34,637	22.7	1%	63 : 37
5	401–500	Aswan University	Egypt	31,877	46.7	2%	55 : 45
5	401–500	University of Ibadan	Nigeria	26,156	17.6	0%	49 : 51
5	401–500	University of Lagos	Nigeria	36,237	21.5	0%	48 : 52
5	401–500	University of KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	35,795	30.1	2%	60 : 40
5	401–500	Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences	Tanzania	3,626	11.3	3%	41 : 59
11	501–600	Damietta University	Egypt	30,084	24.7	1%	71 : 29
11	501–600	Kafrelsheikh University	Egypt	62,533	26.1	2%	48 : 52
11	501–600	Jimma University	Ethiopia	30,473	16.3	0%	30 : 70
11	501–600	Durban University of Technology	South Africa	27,063	36.5	1%	54 : 46
11	501–600	University of Zambia	Zambia	16,903	21.2	1%	35 : 65
16	601–800	Benha University	Egypt	110,645	32.5	3%	42 : 58
16	601–800	Fayoum University	Egypt	44,786	16.8	0%	62 : 38
16	601–800	Mansoura University	Egypt	161,977	47.5	3%	52 : 48
16	601–800	Minia University	Egypt	75,566	17.9	1%	54 : 46
16	601–800	Addis Ababa University	Ethiopia	46,881	14.8	0%	29 : 71
16	601–800	University of Nairobi	Kenya	52,678	34.5	2%	24 : 76
16	601–800	Universidade Eduardo Mondlane	Mozambique	45,256	26.1	0%	39 : 61
16	601–800	University of Namibia	Namibia	29,369	21.8	3%	64 : 36
16	601–800	Covenant University	Nigeria	8,362	15.5	1%	40 : 60
16	601–800	University of Johannesburg	South Africa	29,167	25.1	15%	55 : 45
16	601–800	North-West University	South Africa	40,095	24.3	3%	61 : 39
16	601–800	University of the Western Cape	South Africa	23,510	33.8	6%	61 : 39
28	801–1000	Al-Azhar University	Egypt	425,977	38.4	6%	38 : 62
28	801–1000	Alexandria University	Egypt	202,206	28.2	4%	52 : 48
28	801–1000	American University in Cairo	Egypt	5,921	13.7	5%	56 : 44
28	801–1000	Beni-Suef University	Egypt	82,124	28.3	1%	50 : 50
28	801–1000	Cairo University	Egypt	224,216	36.8	4%	54 : 46
28	801–1000	Suez Canal University	Egypt	38,962	11.4	1%	58 : 42
28	801–1000	Tanta University	Egypt	129,209	19.2	1%	54 : 46
28	801–1000	Zagazig University	Egypt	165,556	26.4	2%	52 : 48
28	801–1000	Zewail City of Science and Technology	Egypt	1,184	11.6	0%	42 : 58
28	801–1000	University of the Free State	South Africa	33,826	36.8	2%	63 : 37
28	801–1000	University of Pretoria	South Africa	36,492	21.7	7%	59 : 41
28	801–1000	Rhodes University	South Africa	6,872	17	14%	63 : 37
28	801–1000	Makerere University	Uganda	31,233	21	3%	51 : 49
41	1001–1200	University of Botswana	Botswana	13,063	17.6	4%	57 : 43
41	1001–1200	Ain Shams University	Egypt	138,700	12.5	4%	53 : 47
41	1001–1200	Assiut University	Egypt	84,941	14.9	1%	55 : 45
41	1001–1200	Menoufia University	Egypt	100,182	34.3	0%	43 : 57
41	1001–1200	Port Said University	Egypt	29,534	29.8	0%	49 : 51
41	1001–1200	Sohag University	Egypt	60,248	26.4	0%	56 : 44
41	1001–1200	South Valley University	Egypt	52,035	30	1%	57 : 43
41	1001–1200	University of Ghana	Ghana	54,256	32.4	1%	48 : 52
41	1001–1200	Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology	Ghana	87,443	78.1	1%	43 : 57
41	1001–1200	Ibn Tofaïl University	Morocco	51,802	71.9	3%	49 : 51
41	1001–1200	University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad	Morocco	110,826	44.8	1%	50 : 50
41	1001–1200	Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University	Morocco	90,045	53.3	2%	48 : 52
41	1001–1200	Bayero University	Nigeria	44,410	25.9	0%	33 : 67
41	1001–1200	Federal University of Technology Akure	Nigeria	19,593	21.1	0%	28 : 72
41	1001–1200	University of South Africa	South Africa	236,282	232.2	3%	73 : 27
41	1001–1200	University of Manouba	Tunisia	16,315	12.1	1%	59 : 41
41	1001–1200	University of Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	20,598	23.9	0%	51 : 49
58	1201–1500	Université 8 Mai 1945 Guelma	Algeria	17,530	20.1	1%	67 : 33
58	1201–1500	Oran 1 University	Algeria	25,775	19.2	1%	66 : 34
58	1201–1500	Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport	Egypt	32,049	13.8	12%	33 : 67
58	1201–1500	The British University in Egypt	Egypt	11,042	16.2	3%	46 : 54
58	1201–1500	German University in Cairo	Egypt	11,937	14.9	1%	44 : 56
58	1201–1500	Abdelmalek Essaâdi University	Morocco	112,677	88.2	1%	50 : 50
58	1201–1500	Université Hassan II de Casablanca	Morocco	124,623	36	2%	52 : 48
58	1201–1500	Mohammed V University of Rabat	Morocco	88,644	43.3	3%	52 : 48
58	1201–1500	Université Chouaib Doukkali	Morocco	21,654	33.6	2%	55 : 45
58	1201–1500	University of Benin	Nigeria	47,468	25.2	0%	50 : 50
58	1201–1500	University of Ilorin	Nigeria	40,901	34.8	1%	48 : 52
58	1201–1500	University of Nigeria Nsukka	Nigeria	43,108	11.4	1%	46 : 54
58	1201–1500	Obafemi Awolowo University	Nigeria	29,939	23.3	0%	41 : 59
58	1201–1500	University of Fort Hare	South Africa	13,626	38.4	2%	57 : 43
58	1201–1500	Tshwane University of Technology	South Africa	45,862	39.6	2%	53 : 47
58	1201–1500	University of Venda	South Africa	11,407	27.8	1%	60 : 40
58	1201–1500	University of Carthage	Tunisia	28,962	9.9	1%	67 : 33
58	1201–1500	Université de Gabès	Tunisia	13,152	12.8	1%	75 : 25
58	1201–1500	University of Monastir	Tunisia	19,203	9.6	2%	70 : 30
58	1201–1500	University of Sfax	Tunisia	29,118	12.9	2%	68 : 32
58	1201–1500	University of Sousse	Tunisia	25,602	13.4	2%	68 : 32
58	1201–1500	University of Tunis El Manar	Tunisia	26,825	11.1	2%	70 : 30
80	1501+	University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd Tlemcen	Algeria	40,203	20.2	1%	68 : 32
80	1501+	Badji Mokhtar University – Annaba	Algeria	41,841	14.2	1%	63 : 37
80	1501+	University of Béjaïa	Algeria	41,381	24.4	2%	61 : 39
80	1501+	University of Biskra	Algeria	33,049	23.1	0%	63 : 37
80	1501+	Blida 1 University	Algeria	30,076	20.4	1%	68 : 32
80	1501+	Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1	Algeria	36,423	22.2	1%	62 : 38
80	1501+	M’Hamed Bougara University of Boumerdès	Algeria	32,336	22.2	1%	60 : 40
80	1501+	University Mohamed Boudiaf of M’Sila	Algeria	38,267	19.4	1%	26 : 74
80	1501+	Université Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-Ouzou	Algeria	41,107	18.1	0%	66 : 34
80	1501+	University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed-Boudiaf	Algeria	19,115	6.9	1%	49 : 51
80	1501+	Université Hassan 1er	Morocco	47,480	51.8	2%	51 : 49
80	1501+	Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta	Nigeria	17,038	25.9	0%	50 : 50
80	1501+	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Nigeria	25,953	53.1	0%	49 : 51
80	1501+	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	Nigeria	33,509	15.7	0%	46 : 54
80	1501+	University of Dar es SalaamTanzania	Tanzania	37,385	24.8	0%	44 : 56
80	1501+	University of Tunis	Tunisia	16,418	12.8	2%	68 : 32

Top universities which did not make the list

The following universities provided data to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023, but did not meet our eligibility criteria to receive a rank.

	University	Country	Number of Full-time Equivalent Students	Number of Students per staff	International Students	Female : Male Ratio
1	University of Benghazi	Libya	76,419	16.3	2%	58 : 42
2	University of Laghouat	Algeria	34,345	35.2	0%	51 : 49
3	University of Batna 1	Algeria	32,179	28.1	0%	64 : 36
4	Université Sultan Moulay Slimane	Morocco	31,042	50	0%	51 : 49
5	Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef	Algeria	30,121	22.3	1%	71 : 29
6	University of El Oued	Algeria	29,028	33.1	0%	59 : 41
7	University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis Mostaganem	Algeria	24,493	19.3	1%	67 : 33
8	Kampala International University	Uganda	23,800	7	30%	45 : 55
9	University of Mascara	Algeria	21,682	12	0%	61 : 39
10	University of Jijel	Algeria	21,228	20.2	0%	63 : 37
11	University for Development Studies	Ghana	20,674	33.9	1%	41 : 59
12	Egerton University	Kenya	20,472	40.1	1%	43 : 57
13	Université Mohamed El Bachir El Ibrahimi de Bordj Bou Arréridj	Algeria	18,000	30.9	0%	100 : 0
14	Adamawa State University, Mubi	Nigeria	17,840	70	0%	35 : 65
15	University of Constantine 3	Algeria	14,736	16.2	2%	73 : 27
16	University of Professional Studies, Accra	Ghana	14,017	39.8	0%	46 : 54
17	Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike	Nigeria	12,962	16.8	0%	52 : 48
18	Babcock University	Nigeria	12,340	18.8	0%	53 : 47
19	Akwa Ibom State University	Nigeria	10,026	20.7	0%	42 : 58
20	Afe Babalola University	Nigeria	9,085	11.1	1%	59 : 41
21	Debre Tabor University	Ethiopia	8,414	7.4	0%	41 : 59
22	Mulungushi UniversityZambia	Zambia	6,988	54.6	0%	41 : 59
23	University of Health and Allied Sciences	Ghana	6,445	23.5	0%	62 : 38
24	Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University	South Africa	6,306	9.9	1%	62 : 38
25	International University of Rabat	Morocco	5,830	33.3	2%	51 : 49
26	Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ikiti	Nigeria	4,329	14.9	0%	60 : 40
27	Bowen University	Nigeria	4,161	12	0%	58 : 42
28	Benson Idahosa University	Nigeria	3,859	16.6	0%	50 : 50
29	Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)	Malawi	2,356	12.3	0%	28 : 72
30	Virtual University of Tunis	Tunisia	2,048	43.6	1%	n/a
31	Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)	Botswana	2,006	11.4	1%	22 : 78
32	Baze University	Nigeria	1,790	5.2	0%	50 : 50
33	Bells University of Technology	Nigeria	1,765	7.5	0%	27 : 73
34	École Nationale Polytechnique	Algeria	1,489	8.7	0%	46 : 54
35	École Polytechnique d’Architecture et d’Urbanisme	Algeria	1,371	10.1	0%	69 : 31
36	American University of Nigeria	Nigeria	1,100	10.1	2%	49 : 51
37	Coal City University	Nigeria	461	4.8	0%	48 : 52
38	Augustine University	Nigeria	238	3.7	0%	40 : 60

The Methodology

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are the only global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook. We use 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry, and governments.

The performance indicators are grouped into five areas:

Teaching: The learning environment;
Research: Volume, income, and reputation;
Citations: Research influence;
International outlook: Staff, students, and research;
Industry income: Knowledge transfer.

Number of Universities in Africa by Country – 2023

Which countries have the most number of universities on the continent? How many universities does each country have?

Africa has a total of 1896 universities. Nigeria has the highest number, as of July 2020, Nigeria counted 262 higher institutions. Many African universities are located in North African countries. Tunisia has 204 universities, the second-highest number, while Morocco has 153. Algeria and Egypt followed, with 104 and 70 universities. Ghana also has 70 universities.

Country	Number of Universities
Nigeria	262
Tunisia	204
Morocco	153
Kenya	129
South Africa	123
Algeria	104
Ethiopia	73
Egypt	70
Ghana	70
Uganda	69
Somalia	60
Sudan	58
Tanzania	52
DR Congo	47
Zambia	44
Libya	40
Senegal	34
Benin	27
Angola	23
Malawi	23
Rwanda	22
Cameroon	21
Zimbabwe	19
Burundi	17
Mozambique	16
Côte d’Ivoire	15
Burkina Faso	15
Gabon	13
Botswana	13
Madagascar	12
Mauritius	9
Mali	9
Cabo Verde	8
Liberia	5
Namibia	5
Togo	5
Gambia	4
Mauritania	4
Seychelles	3
Swaziland	2
Congo	2
Chad	2
Lesotho	2
South Sudan	2
Djibouti	1
Niger	1
Central African Republic	1
Equatorial Guinea	1
Comoros	1
Réunion	1

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2023 Best Universities in Africa

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