Top 5 African countries with the best English proficiency

English is more widely understood today than it was 30 years ago, yet many people still struggle to use it effectively in academic and professional settings.

The cost, in missed opportunities, miscommunication, and wasted time, is difficult to measure. The 2024 EF Education First English Proficiency Index, based on data from 2.1 million test takers, explores global trends in English proficiency.

This year marks the fourth consecutive global decline in average English skills, with 60% of countries scoring lower than in 2023. However, Africa defies this trend.

While not every country improved, the region as a whole made progress, particularly among women, who continue to outperform men. Africa remains the only continent where women consistently show stronger English skills, with Ethiopia recording the world’s widest gender gap in favour of women at 58 points.

English proficiency, as measured at the national level, correlates strongly with a broad set of development indicators such as income, education, innovation, welfare, competitiveness, and global engagement.

Though the strength of these correlations may shift over time, they have remained consistently significant, particularly about calculated indices, more so than single metrics like GDP or average years of schooling.

Despite varied results across the region, Africa’s overall performance highlights a growing emphasis on language skills.

This report spotlights the African countries with the highest English proficiency, where improved language capabilities are helping to unlock opportunity and drive development.