By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The 2025 Education First English Proficiency Index (EPI) shows that Nigeria is the fifth-best English-speaking country in Africa, trailing South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia.
The report, compiled by global education leader, EF, and cited on its website on Monday, January 5, assessed English skills across 123 countries and regions, using data from 2.2 million test takers.
For the first time, this year’s edition also included speaking and writing skills, measured using Artificial Intelligence technology developed by EF’s education technology arm.
Nigeria adopted the English language as its official language and remains central to education, governance, media, and business, helping the country maintain strong proficiency levels.
The ranking of the African country in English proficiency underscores the growing importance of English as a bridge for international communication, education, and commerce, the report said.
The top 10 English-speaking countries in Africa, according to the Education First English Proficiency Index 2025, are: South Africa, recording widespread use in government, education, media, and business; Zimbabwe, where English is the primary language of instruction and administration; and Kenya, where English is the official language alongside Swahili, and widely used in urban and professional settings.
Others are Zambia, where English is the official and main medium of instruction; Nigeria, where English is the official language and central to national communication and commerce; Ghana, where English is used from basic to tertiary education and in public administration; and Uganda, where English is the official language, and plays a key role in trade, diplomacy, and professional environments.
Also on the list of EF EPI top 10 English-speaking countries in Africa are Ethiopia, where the English language is widely used in education and international affairs, though not official; Tunisia, with growing adoption among youth and professionals in education, tech, and tourism; and Morocco, where the English language is increasing in popularity in schools and business for global trade and relations.
