World Scientist and University Rankings 2025
South Africa Social Sciences and Humanities 5.173 Scientists Subject Rankings - 2025
The AD Scientific Index (Alper-Doger Scientific Index) provides the most comprehensive analysis across 13 main fields and 211 sub-branches at global, national, and regional levels. These analyses are based on indicators such as the H-index, i10-index, and citation count, including their values from the last 6 years. As of Jun 14, 2025, the rankings are determined according to the Total H Index. BETA VERSION: The subject field rankings for the world, regions, countries, and universities are currently in their Beta phase. This is due to the exclusion of (1.121.296) scientists categorized under ‘Others’, whose profiles have yet to be determined, edited, or classified. As updates are made to these fields, the rankings will be adjusted accordingly. Note: Please keep this in mind while reviewing the rankings. For further details, explore our [University Subject Rankings].
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Macroecomomics
forecastin
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
93
688
40,467
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* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Maternal and child health
life course development
child and adolescent development
global mental health
global healt
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
83
304
27,525
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Tourism and Development
Local Economic Development
Small Enterprise Developmen
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
82
481
25,836
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
African politics
history
colonialism
race
enlightenmen
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
78
299
71,140
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Employability
Capabilities
Flourishing
Well-being
Positive Organisation
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
77
227
20,150
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Infectious Diseases
HIV
Tuberculosis
Health Economic
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
72
224
26,033
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Disability studies
public mental health
cultural aspects of health car
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
69
331
22,661
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Macroeconomic Polic
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
67
252
16,813
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Neuropsychology
Psychoanalysi
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
61
176
17,214
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
rock art
shell middens
human evolution
South African Prehistory
San hunter gatherer
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
61
138
10,877
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* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Social psychology
race and ethnic studies
research method
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
60
134
22,713
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
palaeoanthropology
archaeology
taphonomy
exploratio
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
58
141
11,890
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Building
Construction Digitalisation
Value Management
Quantity Surveying
Construction Industry Developmen
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
57
369
15,308
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Criminology
Regulation
Climate Change
Cybersecurity
Policin
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
57
170
17,181
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Gender gender-based violence rape HI
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
56
100
16,569
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Masculinities
Violence
Fatherhood
Southern Theory
Academic Staff Suppor
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
55
117
15,107
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
higher education and development
social justice
development ethics
capability approac
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
54
126
10,994
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Poverty
Inequality
Social Mobilit
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
54
159
10,150
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Labour Economics
Poverty and Income Distributio
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
54
161
8,881
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
HIV/ AIDS
adherence
mental healt
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
53
172
16,907
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Economics
political science
developmen
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
53
139
11,523
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
political economy
political ecology
geography
social movement
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
53
242
17,058
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
gender
violence
sexual health
social epidemiolog
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
52
95
15,264
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Career and Human Capacity Developmen
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
51
156
10,683
* Total H IndexRankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Career (construction) counselling
narrative career counselling
life designin
Metrics
H-Index
i10 Index
Citation Counts
51
195
15,159
Rangan Gupta
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
93
688
40,467
Mark Tomlinson
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
83
304
27,525
Maternal and child health
life course development
child and adolescent development
global mental health
global healt
Christian Rogerson
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
82
481
25,836
Tourism and Development
Local Economic Development
Small Enterprise Developmen
Achille Mbembe
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
78
299
71,140
African politics
history
colonialism
race
enlightenmen
Sebastiaan Rothmann
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
77
227
20,150
Employability
Capabilities
Flourishing
Well-being
Positive Organisation
Ian Sanne
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
72
224
26,033
Infectious Diseases
HIV
Tuberculosis
Health Economic
Leslie Swartz
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
69
331
22,661
Disability studies
public mental health
cultural aspects of health car
Nicholas M Odhiambo
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
67
252
16,813
Mark Solms
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
61
176
17,214
John Parkington
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
61
138
10,877
rock art
shell middens
human evolution
South African Prehistory
San hunter gatherer
Is Your University Ready for the Future?
Compare your institution’s global, national, and city-level ranking with its 20 closest competitors and set strategic goals.
Gain insights from detailed performance analyses of scientists across 13 major disciplines, identify your strengths, improve weaknesses, and gain a competitive edge.. Check Your Free Sample Performance Analysis
Kevin Durrheim
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
60
134
22,713
Social psychology
race and ethnic studies
research method
Lee Berger
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
58
141
11,890
palaeoanthropology
archaeology
taphonomy
exploratio
Clinton Aigbavboa
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
57
369
15,308
Building
Construction Digitalisation
Value Management
Quantity Surveying
Construction Industry Developmen
Clifford Shearing
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
57
170
17,181
Criminology
Regulation
Climate Change
Cybersecurity
Policin
Naeemah Abrahams
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
56
100
16,569
Robert Morrell
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
55
117
15,107
Masculinities
Violence
Fatherhood
Southern Theory
Academic Staff Suppor
Melanie Walker
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
54
126
10,994
higher education and development
social justice
development ethics
capability approac
Murray Leibbrandt
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
54
159
10,150
Poverty
Inequality
Social Mobilit
Haroon Bhorat
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
54
161
8,881
Labour Economics
Poverty and Income Distributio
Ashraf Kagee
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
53
172
16,907
J Paul Dunne
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
53
139
11,523
Economics
political science
developmen
Patrick Bond
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
53
242
17,058
political economy
political ecology
geography
social movement
Kristin L Dunkle
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
52
95
15,264
gender
violence
sexual health
social epidemiolog
Melinde Coetzee
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
51
156
10,683
Kobus Maree
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Metrics
H-Index
i10-Index
Citation Counts
51
195
15,159
Career (construction) counselling
narrative career counselling
life designin