The English Proficiency Index (EPI) was recently published by EF Education First, an international education firm that specializes in language training, educational travel, academic degree programs, and cultural exchange.
The countries ranked are considered non-native English speakers, and the data is based on assessments of 2.1 million adults from 111 countries. They are further divided into five proficiency levels: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low.
South Africa shines as an African high-level English speaker, joining top-tier countries such as the Netherlands, Singapore, Austria, Norway, and Denmark.
However, some countries fall into the very low group. These countries have a distinct linguistic environment in which English is not frequently spoken or understood.
The following are Africa’s ten least-skilled English-speaking countries:
| Rank | Country | Global ranking | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 113 | 385 |
| 2 | Libya | 110 | 392 |
| 3 | Rwanda | 109 | 405 |
| 4 | Côte d’Ivoire | 107 | 409 |
| 5 | Somalia | 105 | 411 |
| 6 | Benin | 101 | 416 |
| 7 | Angola | 101 | 416 |
| 8 | Sudan | 97 | 430 |
| 9 | Senegal | 94 | 438 |
| 10 | Cameroon | 94 | 438 |