A new report has revealed that several African nations are making strides in English language skills, with South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda leading the continent in proficiency. The findings are based on the 2024 English Proficiency Index published by EF Education First, which evaluated more than 2 million test-takers globally.
Despite a global decline in English ability for the fourth consecutive year, Africa stands out as the only continent where women consistently outperform men in language proficiency. Ethiopia, in particular, recorded the world’s largest gender gap in favor of women, with a 58-point difference.
Africa Defies Global Trends
While most countries worldwide saw drops in their English scores, the African region showed resilience. Improvements were recorded across many areas, highlighting the growing importance of language skills for economic opportunity, education, and global competitiveness.
Experts say English proficiency correlates strongly with development outcomes such as income levels, innovation, and global engagement.
The Top 5 English-Proficient African Countries (2024)
Rank Country Score Global Ranking
1 South Africa 594 11th
2 Kenya 581 19th
3 Nigeria 557 30th
4 Ghana 534 41st
5 Uganda 518 54th
These countries have invested in English language education and digital learning tools, contributing to their strong performance.
Despite challenges in other development areas, their success in language acquisition offers a hopeful trajectory for broader regional progress.