Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa Highly Cited Researchers Citation Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the 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
health sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
42,623
24,302
0.570
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
HIV/AIDS surveillance
HIV-related stigma and discrimination
behavioural interventions
implementation research
Orphaned and
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,990
6,750
0.338
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
Cities
Regions
Economic geography
Economic development
Urban planning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,099
5,418
0.384
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
Research
Public Health
Psychology
Gender
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,504
4,308
0.345
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
HIV
epidemiology
sexually transmitted infections
statistics
surveys
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,154
4,527
0.406
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
HIV research
testing and counselling
Tuberculosis
GBMSM
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,365
3,007
0.560
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
nutrition
public health
NCDs
health systems
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,129
2,016
0.488
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Population Studies
Demography
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,231
1,477
0.457
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Sociology of Youth & Education
Southern Knowledges
Methodologies
Youth Futures
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,724
1,502
0.551
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Social change
Attitudinal measurement
Quality of Life Studies
Inequality beliefs and redress preferences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,703
1,220
0.451
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
Food and Nutrition Security
Land Reform
Agriculture and Small Farmer Development
Socioeconomic
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,668
1,195
0.448
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
science
technology and innovation measurement
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,648
1,262
0.477
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
mHealth
Community Intervention Research
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,280
1,738
0.762
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
Rural And Urban Development
Agroecology
Food security
Innovation
Development Actors
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,121
970
0.457
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Student Experience
Student Politics
Higher Education Policy
International and Comparative Higher
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,804
1,160
0.643
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Public Health
Epidemiology
Implementation Science
Disease Prevention
Health Promotion
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,618
1,021
0.631
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
Survey Research and Public Opinion
Citizen Engagement and Public Participation
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,578
884
0.560
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
Men
Masculinities
Fatherhood
Parenting and Early childhood development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,495
1,092
0.730
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
Health care seeking
Masculinity
adolescence
social aspects of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis
sexual
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,404
937
0.667
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Education
Education policy
Graduate transitions
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,379
1,008
0.731
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
intergroup relations
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,351
999
0.739
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
housing
gender
monitoring and evaluation
HIV and AIDS
non-communicable diseases
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,334
993
0.744
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
Research ethics
human and social development
HIV
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,107
671
0.606
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
child well-being
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,061
668
0.630
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
innovation and development
social network analysis
inter-organisational networks
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
994
629
0.633
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
12,891
40
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Karl Peltzer
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
42,623
24,302
0.570
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
40,598
124
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Leickness Chisamu Simbayi
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,990
6,750
0.338
HIV/AIDS surveillance
HIV-related stigma and discrimination
behavioural interventions
implementation research
Orphaned and
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
64,813
222
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Ivan Turok
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,099
5,418
0.384
Cities
Regions
Economic geography
Economic development
Urban planning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
75,531
253
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Nompumelelo Zungu
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,504
4,308
0.345
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
86,704
299
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Khangelani Zuma
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,154
4,527
0.406
HIV
epidemiology
sexually transmitted infections
statistics
surveys
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
191,251
793
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Heidi van Rooyen
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,365
3,007
0.560
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
245,144
1,037
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Whadi-ah Parker
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,129
2,016
0.488
nutrition
public health
NCDs
health systems
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
303,532
1,347
8
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Monde Blessing Makiwane
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,231
1,477
0.457
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
348,999
1,583
9
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Sharlene Swartz
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,724
1,502
0.551
Sociology of Youth & Education
Southern Knowledges
Methodologies
Youth Futures
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
351,203
1,598
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Benjamin Roberts
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,703
1,220
0.451
Social change
Attitudinal measurement
Quality of Life Studies
Inequality beliefs and redress preferences
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
354,884
1,615
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Peter T Jacobs
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,668
1,195
0.448
Food and Nutrition Security
Land Reform
Agriculture and Small Farmer Development
Socioeconomic
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
356,974
1,623
12
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Glenda Kruss
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,648
1,262
0.477
science
technology and innovation measurement
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
400,259
1,869
13
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Alastair Van Heerden
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,280
1,738
0.762
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
422,295
2,007
14
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Tim Hart
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,121
970
0.457
Rural And Urban Development
Agroecology
Food security
Innovation
Development Actors
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
473,576
2,256
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Thierry M Luescher
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,804
1,160
0.643
Student Experience
Student Politics
Higher Education Policy
International and Comparative Higher
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
509,857
2,465
16
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Sibusiso Sifunda
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,618
1,021
0.631
Public Health
Epidemiology
Implementation Science
Disease Prevention
Health Promotion
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
518,453
2,521
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Yul Davids
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,578
884
0.560
Survey Research and Public Opinion
Citizen Engagement and Public Participation
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
536,588
2,619
18
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Tawanda Makusha
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,495
1,092
0.730
Men
Masculinities
Fatherhood
Parenting and Early childhood development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
558,071
2,755
19
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Jeremiah Chikovore
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,404
937
0.667
Health care seeking
Masculinity
adolescence
social aspects of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis
sexual
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
564,251
2,793
20
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Andrea Juan
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,379
1,008
0.731
Education
Education policy
Graduate transitions
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
571,379
2,838
21
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Steven Lawrence Gordon
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,351
999
0.739
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
575,733
2,860
22
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Catherine Ndinda
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,334
993
0.744
housing
gender
monitoring and evaluation
HIV and AIDS
non-communicable diseases
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
641,960
3,241
23
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Zaynab Essack
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,107
671
0.606
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
657,101
3,323
24
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Mokhantšo Makoae
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,061
668
0.630
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
680,716
3,456
25
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Il-Haam Petersen
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
994
629
0.633
innovation and development
social network analysis
inter-organisational networks