top-cited scientists

Top-cited scientists in South Africa

2025 single-year list · 1,033 listed authors · 34th of 170 countries

1,033 researchers whose current affiliation is in South Africa are in the 2025 list of top-cited scientists, the annual ranking often called the top 2% scientists list. 392 of them rank in the global top 100,000 by composite citation score (c, excluding self-citations). South Africa has 0.4% of everyone on the list, 34th of 170 countries.

Listed authors
1,033
0.4% of the list
In the global top 100,000
392
37.9% of its listed authors
Country rank
#34
of 170 countries by listed authors
Highest-ranked
#84
Hamblin, Michael R.

Top institutions in South Africa

  1. University of Cape Town11711%
  2. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg959%
  3. University of Johannesburg889%
  4. Stellenbosch University868%
  5. University of Pretoria838%
  6. University of KwaZulu-Natal747%
  7. University of South Africa596%
  8. North-West University454%
  9. University of the Western Cape333%
  10. University of the Free State273%

Top fields

  1. Clinical Medicine24724%
  2. Biomedical Research979%
  3. Biology929%
  4. Enabling & Strategic Technologies818%
  5. Chemistry788%
  6. Social Sciences636%
  7. Earth & Environmental Sciences626%
  8. Physics & Astronomy565%
  9. Engineering545%
  10. Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry414%

1,033 listed scientists in South Africa

See all 1,033 in the interactive table →