Nigeria Ranks 5th Best English-Speaking Country in Africa, 29th Globally

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Nigeria has been ranked the fifth best English-speaking country in Africa and 29th globally in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), reaffirming the country’s strong position among nations where English plays a central role in education, governance, and business.

The ranking was released by Education First (EF), a global education organisation known for its culturally immersive learning programmes. The EF EPI 2025 assessed adult English proficiency across 123 countries and regions, making it one of the most comprehensive global language rankings.

How the EF English Proficiency Index Works

EF said the 2025 index draws insights from 2.2 million test takers worldwide who completed the EF Skills Evaluation Technology (EF SET) the world’s largest free standardised English test used by individuals, institutions, and organisations.

For the first time, this year’s report expanded beyond reading and listening to include speaking and writing skills, assessed using proprietary artificial intelligence technology developed by Efekta Education Group, EF’s education technology arm.

“English remains the world’s most widely shared language for international communication,” said Kate Bell, author of the EF EPI and EF’s Head of Assessment.
“In a time of growing global complexity, its role as a common bridge between cultures, economies, and ideas is more important than ever.”

Africa’s Best English-Speaking Countries in 2025

Africa performed strongly in the global ranking, with several countries placing within the top 30 worldwide.

• South Africa emerged as Africa’s highest-ranked country, placing 13th globally.
• Zimbabwe followed closely, ranking second in Africa and also 13th worldwide.
• Kenya placed 19th globally, while Zambia ranked 27th.
• Nigeria secured the 29th position globally, rounding out the top five in Africa.

Why Nigeria Ranked Among Africa’s Top Five

Nigeria’s performance reflects the widespread and institutionalised use of English across the country. As Nigeria’s official language, English serves as the primary medium for:

• Education, from basic schooling to tertiary institutions
• Government and public administration
• Media, journalism, and digital publishing
• Business, technology, and international trade

Despite Nigeria’s rich linguistic diversity with over 500 indigenous languages, English remains the unifying language that connects the country internally and to the global economy.

Full List: Top 10 English-Speaking Countries in Africa (EF EPI 2025)

1. South Africa – English is deeply embedded in government, higher education, media, and commerce, making it a key unifying language in a multilingual society.
2. Zimbabwe – Strong literacy levels and long-standing use of English in education and administration support high proficiency.
3. Kenya – English, alongside Swahili, is an official language widely used in schools, courts, government, and professional spaces.
4. Zambia – As the official language and main medium of instruction, English plays a central role in governance and education.
5. Nigeria – English dominates education, governance, media, and business, reinforcing Nigeria’s place among Africa’s top performers.
6. Ghana – English is the official language and the primary language of instruction across all education levels.
7. Uganda – Widely used in schools, government, and regional diplomacy, English supports Uganda’s growing global engagement.
8. Ethiopia – While not an official language, English is the main language of higher education and international affairs.
9. Tunisia – English use is expanding rapidly among young people, professionals, and in technology-driven sectors.
10. Morocco – Increasingly embraced by students and businesses as a gateway to global trade and international relations.

The EF EPI highlights how English proficiency continues to shape economic opportunity, global competitiveness, and cross-border collaboration. For Nigeria, the ranking underscores the country’s advantage in international communication, outsourcing, digital services, media, and global trade.

As English continues to serve as a global bridge language, Nigeria’s strong performance positions it well for future growth in education, technology, and international partnerships.