Nigeria Among Africa’s Top 10 English-Speaking Nations, Says EF 2025 Report

Nigeria has been ranked the fifth-best English-speaking country in Africa in the 2025 English Proficiency Index released by Education First (EF), a global education organisation.

The report assessed adult English language skills across 123 countries and regions worldwide, drawing data from over 2.2 million test takers.

The EF English Proficiency Index is considered the world’s largest and most detailed assessment of English skills.

For the first time, the 2025 edition evaluated speaking and writing abilities alongside reading and listening, using artificial intelligence tools developed by EF’s education technology unit. EF noted that English continues to play a vital role in global communication, education and economic cooperation.

South Africa emerged as the top-ranked country in Africa and placed 13th globally, reflecting the widespread use of English in government, education, business and the media. Zimbabwe followed closely in second place on the continent while Kenya and Zambia ranked third and fourth respectively, driven by their strong use of English in public institutions and schools.

Nigeria secured the fifth position in Africa due to the central role of English as the country’s official language and main means of communication. The language is widely used across education, governance, media and commerce, supporting Nigeria’s strong performance in the ranking despite its multilingual population.

Other countries that made Africa’s top 10 list include Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Morocco, where English continues to grow in importance, especially among young people, professionals and in international trade.

EF said the findings highlight how English proficiency is increasingly shaping Africa’s global relevance and economic opportunities.