Education

Study Confirms Kenya’s Position as Africa’s Third-Best English-Speaking Nation

New global assessment places Kenya ahead of several major African nations in language competency

Kenya has claimed the third spot among African countries for English language proficiency, according to newly released findings from Education First (EF), a leading international education organization specializing in language instruction.

The 2025 English Proficiency Index (EPI), published by EF, positions Kenya behind only South Africa and Zimbabwe on the continental rankings, surpassing prominent nations including Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Morocco.

The comprehensive assessment evaluated English language capabilities among adults across 123 countries and territories, drawing on data from more than 2.2 million participants who completed the EF Skills Evaluation Technology (EF SET) during the previous year. The participant demographic consisted of 54 percent female and 46 percent male respondents, with an average age of 26 years.

Continental Rankings Reveal Regional Patterns

South Africa emerged as Africa’s leader in English proficiency, with Zimbabwe securing second place. Zambia rounded out the top four positions behind Kenya. These four nations share notable characteristics, including the widespread integration of English into governmental operations, educational frameworks, and media industries.

Kenya’s strong performance reflects the enduring linguistic legacy of British colonial rule, during which English was instituted as the official administrative language. The language continues to maintain official status and widespread usage throughout the country’s institutions.

The rankings placed Nigeria in fifth position, followed by Ghana and Uganda in sixth and seventh places respectively. Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Morocco completed the continental top ten in eighth, ninth, and tenth positions.

According to the report’s analysis, the strong English proficiency demonstrated by Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana correlates directly with the language’s official status in these countries. Ethiopia presents an interesting exception, where English maintains widespread educational use despite lacking official recognition.

Global Context and Economic Implications

The report emphasized the economic significance of English proficiency in today’s interconnected world. “English proficiency reflects a workforce’s capacity to engage with the global economy beyond national boundaries,” the assessment noted. “In economies transitioning toward knowledge-based sectors, comfort with English often signals adaptability to international standards.”

On the global scale, Kenya achieved a respectable 19th position overall. The Netherlands topped the worldwide rankings, followed by Croatia, Australia, and Germany in the leading positions. The remaining global top ten included Norway, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, and Slovakia.

The findings underscore the continuing importance of English language skills as economies across Africa and globally increasingly integrate with international markets and knowledge-based industries.