South Africa has been ranked the best English-speaking country in Africa and 13th globally in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), reinforcing its position as the continent’s strongest performer in adult English language skills. The annual index, published by global education company Education First (EF), assessed English proficiency across 123 countries and territories, using test data from more than 2.2 million adult participants worldwide.
According to the 2025 rankings, Zimbabwe followed closely behind South Africa, finishing second in Africa and also placing 13th globally, highlighting a strong English-language tradition despite ongoing economic and political challenges in the country. Kenya ranked third in Africa and 19th worldwide, while Zambia placed fourth on the continent with a global ranking of 27th.
Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda completed the continent’s top seven performers, reflecting the continued dominance of Anglophone countries in Africa in terms of English usage and proficiency. The EF EPI measures adult English skills across reading and listening, focusing on practical language ability rather than academic credentials.
Education First noted that English continues to play a central role in governance, education, business, and media across much of sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, English functions as a key language of instruction, commerce, and national communication, despite the country having 11 official languages. EF said this multilingual environment, combined with strong exposure to English in schools and media, has helped sustain high proficiency levels.
Zimbabwe’s strong performance was attributed to its historically robust education system, where English remains the primary language of instruction from upper primary school through tertiary education. Kenya and Zambia also benefit from education systems that emphasize English as the main medium of instruction, giving citizens early and sustained exposure to the language.
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Nigeria and Ghana, Africa’s two largest Anglophone economies, continued to rank well due to the widespread use of English in public administration, higher education, and national media. In both countries, English serves as a unifying language across dozens of indigenous languages, making it central to daily life, professional advancement, and regional integration.
Uganda’s inclusion in the top seven reflects steady improvements in adult English proficiency, supported by English-language schooling and its use as the official language in government and business.
Globally, the EF EPI showed that English proficiency remains closely linked to economic opportunity, access to global markets, and competitiveness in international trade and technology. EF said countries with higher English proficiency tend to attract more foreign investment and perform better in knowledge-based sectors.
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However, EF also cautioned that maintaining strong English proficiency requires sustained investment in education and teacher training. The organization warned that economic pressures, underfunded school systems, and unequal access to quality education could slow progress in some countries if not addressed.
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