Sub-Saharan African Universities Break into Top 100 of Global Sustainability Rankings

Three universities from Sub-Saharan Africa have secured prestigious spots in the global top 100 of the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026.

Leading the region’s impressive performance is South Africa’s University of Johannesburg, which claimed the highest regional spot at joint 39th place overall. Joining it in the top tier are Nigeria’s Afe Babalola University, ranked at joint 72nd, and South Africa’s University of Pretoria, which took joint 78th place. Additionally, South Africa and Nigeria distinguished themselves as the only countries from the region to feature in the top 10s for individual Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) tables.

The strong showing from these institutions underscores a broader regional momentum toward sustainable development. In total, 84 universities representing 20 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa participated in the ratings. Nigeria stands out as the most represented country in the region with 20 universities ranked. The 2026 edition also marks an expansion of the region’s footprint, with Mali and Niger both making their ranking debuts, each represented by one university.

The THE Sustainability Impact Ratings are uniquely positioned as the only global performance tables that assess universities against all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The 2026 results, which were released at the Global Sustainable Development Congress in Jakarta, Indonesia, evaluated a massive cohort of 1,646 unique institutions from 116 countries and territories.

Speaking on the global results, Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, highlighted how the rankings showcase deep social and economic impacts globally. He noted that the ratings prove that “excellence comes in many shapes, sizes and contexts – not just from the traditionally dominant universities of the Global North,” emphasizing that there are examples of excellence to be found in abundance across all parts of the world

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DUSABEMUNGU Ange de la Victoire

Award-winning journalist and communications professional, recognized with the APO Group’s inaugural Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Journalism Award for promoting African entrepreneurship. Content Manager at Top Africa News and contributor to various African media outlets. Experienced in content creation, digital media, communications, and digital marketing, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Journalism from the National University of Rwanda. Also specializes in website design, management, hosting, and content development.

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