South Africa and Zimbabwe lead Africa in English proficiency, both scoring 602 and ranking joint‑13th globally in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI). Kenya follows with 593 (19th globally), Zambia 573 (27th), and Nigeria 568 (29th), making it the continent’s fifth‑highest scorer. Ghana ranks sixth in Africa and 36th globally with 540.
Compared with 2024, Kenya recorded the largest improvement among top African countries, rising 12 points from 581. South Africa declined slightly from 605 to 602, while Zimbabwe entered the very-high proficiency category with a score equal to South Africa’s. Morocco showed the biggest North African gain, increasing 13 points, though it remains in the low proficiency band. Tunisia improved modestly, while Egypt’s score remained largely unchanged in the mid‑400s.
Other African nations remain uneven in English skills. Uganda (518) and Ethiopia (499) sit in the moderate proficiency range, while francophone countries such as Côte d’Ivoire (393) and Togo (397) scored lower, reflecting the influence of language policies and education resources.
EF notes that English proficiency is increasingly critical for global business and education. The 2025 index, which for the first time includes speaking and writing assessments, highlights persistent gaps in teacher training and access to English-medium instruction across the continent.
As African economies expand global engagement, policymakers and educators can use these rankings to guide efforts in strengthening language instruction and workforce readiness.
