English is arguably the most important language in the world. It is among the top 3 most popular languages, a list which also includes Mandarin and Spanish. It is also the most common official or co-official language of countries. English serves as the primary language for many organizations, including the United Nations and World Trade Organization. It is also used for major events like the Olympics and the Fifa World Cup.
English is a widely spoken language in Africa as well. In our piece about the top 15 English-speaking countries in Africa, we discussed that the prevalence of the language can be attributed to the influence of the British Empire during the colonial era, and they colonized over 50 African countries. Today, 27 of 54 African countries claim English as an official language. While curating our list of the African countries with the lowest English proficiency, we also found some correlation between prevalence and proficiency. Only one country on this list was a part of the list of top English-speaking African countries.
English is one of the fastest-growing languages globally. From 1991 to 2021, its speakers have grown from 405,741,495 to 1,300,569,350 worldwide. The language has outpaced others over the past 10 and 50 years, with factors such as globalization, technological advancements, and the prevalence of English in various domains contributing to its growth.
English is also the world’s leading language for study. According to a report by Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL), 122 countries now place English as their top language to learn. In addition, Asian countries such as India, Vietnam, and China see English language proficiency as crucial for academic success.
Given its popularity, companies that teach English and other languages are becoming increasingly important. One such company is Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL). It is an American technology company that teaches languages through applications and provides certifications. Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL) offers courses for 43 languages, but English consistently ranks as the top language learned on the company’s platform.
There is another category of companies that lets their customer learn a language in a traditional teacher-student mode online. Those who are good at English can use their platforms to teach English and earn money. For a complete list of such companies, check out our piece on the best companies for teaching English online.
Before we head to our list, let’s attempt to see whether the stereotype that English proficiency in a country directly correlates to its prosperity is true or not. In this regard, it is essential to understand two concepts: Expanding-Circle countries and Outer-Circle countries. Expandig-Cirlce includes countries where English is spoken, but it does not necessarily have a colonial history or a primary language status. Countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Egypt are examples of Expanding-Circle countries. The Outer Circle includes countries where English has some colonial history and hence has been spoken there for longer. These countries include India, Bangladesh, Ghana, and Kenya.
A research paper by Shigeru Ozaki in the South Asian Journal of Arts, Language, and Literature on the impact of English proficiency on national prosperity landed on a conclusion that was quite opposite to the established stereotype mentioned above. It found Expanding-Circle countries to be more prosperous than Outer-Circle countries. The paper concludes that English does not always lead a country to prosperity.
While we may be able to conclude that English proficiency does not have an impact on the overall prosperity of the nation, we know that on an individual level, it opens many doors and can lead to a better living standard. So, let’s now look at the 15 African countries with the lowest English proficiency.
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Methodology
To curate our list of the 15 African countries with the lowest English proficiency, we used the English Proficiency Index (EPI) by Education First (EF). The index is based on the test results of 2.2 million adults in 113 countries and regions. The index scores each country based on the proficiency, the higher the score, the higher the proficiency. For our list, we considered the bottom 15 African countries on the index. Some of these countries have the same score, which means that they also have the same level of proficiency.
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15 – Morocco
English Proficiency Index Score – 478
From 2017 to 2021, women have been more proficient in English in Morocco. However, as per the latest EPI scores, men are more proficient in the language. The lowest level of English proficiency from 2017 to 2023 was recorded among people aged 41 and above, while the highest level was recorded among the age group 21 to 25-year-olds. In addition, the Moroccan region with the lowest level of English proficiency was Drâa-Tafilalet, with an EPI score of 428. One of the cities with the least proficiency in English was Nador, with an EPI score of 461.
14 – Algeria
English Proficiency Index Score – 475
Algeria is 14th on our list of African countries with the lowest English proficiency. Since 2017, the highest level of English proficiency was recorded among the age group 21 to 25 years old, with an EPI score of 508 in 2022. In 2023, the lowest English proficiency was recorded among people who were more than 41 years old, with an EPI score of 416. The Algerian region with the lowest EPI score was M’sila province. Interestingly, up until 2021, women in the country were more proficient in English, but since 2022, men have the lead.
13 – Madagascar
English Proficiency Index Score – 474
Madagascar ranks 78 out of the 113 countries in the English proficiency index, making it the 13th country on our list of the 15 African countries with the lowest English proficiency. As per the latest results, females are more proficient in English, compared to males in the country. It is worth noting that the official languages in the country are Malagasy and French. Malagasy is an Austronesian language spoken by around 25 million people in Madagascar and the Comoros.
12 – Egypt
English Proficiency Index Score – 463
Egypt is one of the African countries with the lowest English proficiency. Its Qena Governorate is the region with the lowest EPI scores, with Qena City being one of the Egyptian cities with the lowest English proficiency. In 2023, the age group with the highest English proficiency score was 31 to 40 years old, while the one with the lowest score was 18 to 20 years old. Egypt is also one of the African countries where historically females had higher proficiency in English but Males have taken the lead recently. While females were more proficient in English from 2016 to 2021, males have become more proficient from 2021 onwards.
11 – Malawi
English Proficiency Index Score – 460
Malawi is among the 15 African countries with the lowest English proficiency. It is ranked 86th out of the 113 countries in the English Proficiency Index. It wasn’t until the end of the 19th century that English was introduced into the country because of the influence of British explorers and the African Lakes Corporation. While English is the official language of the country, according to the 2008 census data, only 26% of the population above the age of 14 were able to speak the language.
10 – Senegal
English Proficiency Index Score – 438
Senegal is among the 20 African countries with the lowest English proficiency. It ranks 94 out of the 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index. As per the latest scores, females in the country are more proficient in English, compared to males. It is worth noting that the official language in Senegal is French. However, according to a piece by Voice of America, young people in the country are turning to English, which is also taught as a second language in the country.
9 – Cameroon
English Proficiency Index Score – 438
With an EPI score of 438, Cameroon ranks 9th on our list of 15 African countries with the lowest level of English proficiency. Its western region is the least proficient in English with an EPI score of 378, and one of the cities with the lowest EPI score is Douala. Currently, males have a higher English proficiency compared to females, and the gap between male and female proficiency has been widening since 2022. It is also worth noting that Cameroon ranks 94th out of 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index.
8 – Sudan
English Proficiency Index Score – 430
Sudan ranks 97 out of 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index. As of 2023, the age group with the lowest proficiency was people aged more than 41 years old, while the one with the highest score was 21 to 25 years old. Historically, women had a higher proficiency, but currently, males have the lead.
7 – Benin
English Proficiency Index Score – 416
Benin is one of the 15 African countries with the lowest English proficiency. It ranks 101 among the 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index. It is worth noting that the country was colonized by the Portuguese people, and Portuguese serves as the official language of the country. English, on the other hand, is one of the most popular languages taught in schools.
6 – Angola
English Proficiency Index Score – 416
Angola is among the 15 African countries with the lowest English proficiency. Like Benin, it also ranks 101 among the 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index. Currently, women lead in terms of overall English proficiency.
5 – Somalia
English Proficiency Index Score – 411
Somalia is ranked 105 out of 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index, even though English is widely taught in schools. The most widely spoken language in the country is Northern Standard Somali followed by Maay Somali and Benadiri Somali. It is also worth noting that the official languages of the country are Northern Standard Somali and Arabic. However, Arabic is mainly reserved for religious practices in the country. English, on the other hand, is the working language of many NGOs operating in the country.
4 – Ivory Coast
English Proficiency Index Score – 409
Ivory Coast is among the bottom 4 African countries in terms of English proficiency. It is ranked 107 among the 113 countries in the English Proficiency Index. Currently, women are more proficient in English compared to men. Females have an EPI score of 412, while males have a score of 407. It is worth noting that the official language of the Ivory Coast is French, while some local indigenous languages are also widely used in the country.
3 – Rwanda
English Proficiency Index Score – 405
Rwanda is among the 3 African countries with the lowest English proficiency. It ranks 109 out of the 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index. Its western region has the lowest English proficiency score with an EPI score of 332. Currently, males are more proficient in English as they have a score of 408 as opposed to 399 for females. However, with a 405 EPI score in 2022, Females were more proficient for that year as males scored 379.
