Kenya has secured the third position among African nations for English proficiency and ranks 19th globally, according to the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) released by Education First (EF).
This places Kenya ahead of several other prominent English-speaking countries on the continent, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Morocco.
The EF EPI 2025, considered the world’s most comprehensive assessment of adult English language skills, gathered insights from 2.2 million test takers across 123 countries and regions worldwide.
For the first time, the 2025 report also incorporated assessments of speaking and writing skills, utilizing proprietary artificial intelligence technology developed by Efekta Education Group, EF’s education technology arm.
Kate Bell, author of the EF EPI and EF’s Head of Assessment, emphasized the enduring importance of English. “English remains the world’s most widely shared language for international communication. In a time of growing global complexity, its role as a common bridge between cultures, economies, and ideas is more important than ever,” Bell stated.
Kenya’s strong performance is attributed to English serving as an official language alongside Swahili, its widespread use in schools, government institutions, courts, and the private sector, particularly in urban and professional environments.
South Africa and Zimbabwe claimed the top two spots in Africa, both ranking 13th globally.
Zambia followed Kenya at fourth in Africa and 27th globally, while Nigeria ranked fifth in Africa and 29th worldwide.
