Uganda ranks behind Kenya on Education First’s English Proficiency Index 2025, while Tanzania posted one of the weakest performances among East African countries.
Out of 123 countries ranked, Kenya placed 19th, Uganda 53rd and Tanzania 77th. The Netherlands topped the index.
The 2025 edition was based on test results of 2.2m adults in 123 countries and regions. Kenya emerged second in Africa after South Africa and Zimbabwe, which share a joint global ranking of 13.
English remains a key medium of instruction in Kenya and Uganda, and higher proficiency is associated with stronger communication skills and high employment prospects.
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The index is published by Education First, an international education company based in Switzerland, which describes it as the world’s largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills. Switzerland ranks 30th.
The index groups countries into five proficiency bands: Very High Proficiency, under which South Africa and Kenya fall; High Proficiency, Moderate Proficiency, where Uganda belongs; Low Proficiency and Very Low Proficiency.
An accompanying chart illustrates the kind of tasks individuals can accomplish at each proficiency band.
For example, individuals in Very High Proficiency can use nuanced and appropriate language in social situations, read advanced texts with ease and negotiate a contract with a native English speaker.
Those under Very Low Proficiency can only simply introduce themselves by name, age, country of origin and understand simple signs while giving basic directions to a foreign visitor.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OUR READERS OFTEN ASK
Does the index accurately reflect the English proficiency of the countries it ranks?
Education First is upfront about sampling biases, noting that the test-taking population represented in the index is self-selected and not guaranteed to be representative.
“Only those who want to learn English or are curious about their English skills will participate in one of these tests,” it says.
“This could skew scores lower or higher than those of the general population.”
It notes that the index has been cited by international media outlets, including the BBC, CNN, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.
The EF SET is free and can be done by anyone with internet access.
Despite limitations, the rankings generally align with observed levels of English usage in both high-performing and lower-performing countries.
South Africa performed strongly, reflecting the fact that many South Africans speak English as a first language and regularly interact with native speakers.
In Kenya, English is widely spoken in everyday settings, including markets and public transport—a level of everyday usage that is less common in Uganda and Tanzania.
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