Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers CitationSocial Sciences / Anthropology in South Africa Rankings 2025
Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) and the list of the most cited and influential researchers cover a wide range of scientific fields, spanning 197 main and sub-disciplines, as well as the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings, offering a unique service. Additionally, the list without CERN, Statistical Data, etc., provided exclusively by “AD Scientific Index”, is part of our effort to balance the situation created by CERN and researchers with statistical data, who have an advantage over others, especially those in the social and humanities fields. There should be new regulations for multi-author and CERN papers. Citation lists also reveal many rule violations and unethical practices. See also for more specific citation analyses: Scientists Last 6 years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025 and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :1
Forensic anthropology
biological anthropology
skeletal biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,306
4,836
0.363
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
anthropology
African studies
media and communication studies
identities
citizenship
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,746
4,697
0.400
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
palaeoanthropology
archaeology
taphonomy
exploration
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,157
4,761
0.427
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
Cultural and Media Studies
critical indigenous methodologies
film
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,837
2,393
0.305
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
Higher education
public health
children
poverty and livelihoods
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,669
1,861
0.399
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
Mammalian paleontology
Biological anthropology
Skeletal biology
Paleoanthropology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,214
1,141
0.355
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
evidentiary practices
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,213
1,249
0.389
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Medical Anthropology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,965
1,137
0.383
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Palaeontology
palaeoanthropology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,953
1,735
0.588
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Africa
HIV & AIDS
sex & sexuality
Artisanal mining
traditional healing
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,545
540
0.212
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,518
792
0.315
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
medical anthropology
anthropology of childhood and child labour
visual anthropology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,942
811
0.418
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
learning & teaching with technology
science-technology-society
evidence-use
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,865
884
0.474
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
rural connectivity
white spaces
mesh networks
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,723
516
0.299
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Anthropology African studies materiality landscape bodies urban
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,620
781
0.482
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
anthropology of knowledge
environmental humanities
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,489
821
0.551
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
religion
public health
philosophical anthropology
social ethics
theology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,471
304
0.207
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
Applied Human Anatomy
Hominin thoracic morphology
Vertebral variation and abnormalities
Paleoanthropology
Australopithecus s
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,456
960
0.659
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
Science careers
Scientometrics
Social research methodology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,402
812
0.579
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,331
313
0.235
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
Social Problems
Social Control
Civic Protection Social Protection
Social Order
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,307
772
0.591
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
Research evaluation
Research collaboration
Research impact
Bibliometrics
Science in Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,299
831
0.640
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
Palaeoenvironments
faunal analysis
Palaeontology
Palaeoanthropology
Palaeoecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,194
500
0.419
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
informal economy
land reform
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,044
206
0.197
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Palaeozoology
Palaeoecology
Ecology
Palaeoanthropology
Conservation biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,026
476
0.464
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
67,806
232
34
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Maryna Steyn
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,306
4,836
0.363
Forensic anthropology
biological anthropology
skeletal biology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
79,098
265
56
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Francis B. Nyamnjoh
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,746
4,697
0.400
anthropology
African studies
media and communication studies
identities
citizenship
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
84,169
290
44
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Lee Berger
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,157
4,761
0.427
palaeoanthropology
archaeology
taphonomy
exploration
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
126,058
469
40
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Keyan Tomaselli
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,837
2,393
0.305
Cultural and Media Studies
critical indigenous methodologies
film
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
213,156
886
53
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Thea De Wet
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,669
1,861
0.399
Higher education
public health
children
poverty and livelihoods
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
297,302
1,307
154
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Lynne A. Schepartz
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,214
1,141
0.355
Mammalian paleontology
Biological anthropology
Skeletal biology
Paleoanthropology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
297,393
1,308
155
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Richard Rottenburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,213
1,249
0.389
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
317,994
1,422
94
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Jonathan Stadler
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,965
1,137
0.383
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
319,087
1,428
168
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Bernhard Zipfel
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,953
1,735
0.588
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
359,583
1,641
187
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Robert J Thornton
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,545
540
0.212
Africa
HIV & AIDS
sex & sexuality
Artisanal mining
traditional healing
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
362,517
1,658
336
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Fiona C. Ross
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,518
792
0.315
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
439,821
2,083
385
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Susan L. Levine
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,942
811
0.418
medical anthropology
anthropology of childhood and child labour
visual anthropology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
452,801
2,157
144
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Carina Van Rooyen
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,865
884
0.474
learning & teaching with technology
science-technology-society
evidence-use
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
478,088
2,273
415
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
David Johnson
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,723
516
0.299
rural connectivity
white spaces
mesh networks
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
498,454
2,386
155
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Joost Fontein
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,620
781
0.482
Anthropology African studies materiality landscape bodies urban
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
526,864
2,569
461
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Lesley Green
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,489
821
0.551
anthropology of knowledge
environmental humanities
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
531,060
2,588
466
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
James R Cochrane
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,471
304
0.207
religion
public health
philosophical anthropology
social ethics
theology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
534,397
2,606
171
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Shahed Nalla
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,456
960
0.659
Applied Human Anatomy
Hominin thoracic morphology
Vertebral variation and abnormalities
Paleoanthropology
Australopithecus s
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
547,104
2,668
328
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Heidi Prozesky
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,402
812
0.579
Science careers
Scientometrics
Social research methodology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
565,164
2,788
293
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Eric Worby
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,331
313
0.235
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
571,403
2,830
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Emeka E Obioha
Walter Sisulu University
Mthatha, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,307
772
0.591
Social Problems
Social Control
Civic Protection Social Protection
Social Order
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
573,521
2,848
350
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Nelius Boshoff
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,299
831
0.640
Research evaluation
Research collaboration
Research impact
Bibliometrics
Science in Africa
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
603,001
3,025
522
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Deano Stynder
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,194
500
0.419
Palaeoenvironments
faunal analysis
Palaeontology
Palaeoanthropology
Palaeoecology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
651,028
3,282
216
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Richard Devey
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,044
206
0.197
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
657,219
3,322
334
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Brian F Kuhn
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,026
476
0.464
Palaeozoology
Palaeoecology
Ecology
Palaeoanthropology
Conservation biology