A bibliometric analysis of barriers, policies and sustainability of public transport in Africa

Abstract

Abstract Sustainable transportation remains a major driver for sustainable development globally, yet the transformation of passenger public transport systems in Africa continues to face persistent challenges. Despite a growing body of research addressing passenger public transport policies, sustainability goals, and operational barriers, existing evidence is fragmented across disciplinary and thematic silos, limiting a coherent understanding of how these domains interact. Against the backdrop of rapid population growth and evolving passenger public transport dynamics in Africa, this study investigates publication trends, thematic foci, and knowledge gaps at the intersection of policies, barriers, and sustainability. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used for this systematic review with a focus on articles published from 2008 to 2024. Bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer version 1.6.20, was performed on publications obtained from Scopus database. The results identify the most influential authors and countries across the three thematic domains and reveal several topics that bridge two or all three areas. Although research attention has increased over time, significant conceptual and thematic gaps remain. Therefore, this bibliometric review maps the intellectual structure of the field and highlights opportunities for more integrated and interdisciplinary research to support sustainable passenger public transport development in Africa.