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Dec 12, 2018 · Learn about the 24 African countries where English is an official language, mostly former British colonies. See the population rankings, the best English speakers, and the role of English in trade and diplomacy.
- Nigeria. Population: 218 million | Capital city: Abuja. Nigeria was a British colonial empire that adopted English after gaining independence in 1960. It is one of the English-speaking countries in west Africa and the most populated country in Africa.
- The Gambia. Population: 2 million | Capital city: Banjul. The Gambia was under British rule until 1965 when they gained their freedom from colonialism. Although Wolof is the most widely spoken language, English remains the official language.
- South Africa. Population: 58 million | Capital city: Pretoria. Read also. 20 funniest country names: Which continent features the most? English was introduced in South Africa in the 1800s after the British colonialists took over the Dutch.
- Ghana. Population: 33 million | Capital city: Accra. Ghana is one of the English-speaking countries in West Africa after adopting English from the British colonizers.
Sep 12, 2021 · Learn about the 27 African countries that speak English as their official or secondary language, and their colonial and cultural backgrounds. Find out how English is used in education, business, and communication across the continent.
- Map of English Speaking Countries in Africa. Here’s a look at the top English-speaking countries in Africa, where the populations embrace English for common communication in business, government, tourism, diplomacy, and education settings.
- South Africa. South Africa unquestionably tops the list of English-speaking countries in Africa, based on the 2021 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) from Education First.
- Kenya. Stemming from a British presence by the late 1800s and colonization by 1920, Kenya retains a high level of English proficiency. The country teaches English in public schools, raising varying levels of English use to an estimated 30 to 50 percent of the population.
- Nigeria. Just a few notches below Kenya on the EF EPI index, Nigeria is one of the largest English-speaking countries in Africa. Estimates place the number of Nigerians who speak at least some level of English at more than 110 million.
- Uganda. English has been the official language of Uganda since independence during the colonial period of 1962. It doesn’t guarantee that it is being used everywhere in the country.
- Zambia. Zambia has more than 70 indigenous languages and dialects. Several major languages among them belong to the Bantu family. English is the official language of Zambia, and English is used in official works, business and education.
- South Africa. There are not so many South Africa who speak English as their first language. Usually, old black people did not speak English because they grew up during the de facto Lingua Franca.
- Nigeria. Nigeria is the fourth-best African country that speaks English. It is a multilingual country which is consisting various ethnic groups. These groups have created a complex landscape through their historical, cultural, and educational developments.
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Jun 25, 2023 · Learn about the history and importance of English in Africa and discover the most English-proficient and English-speaking countries on the continent. See the rankings, statistics, and examples of English varieties and accents in Africa.
Jan 12, 2024 · Uganda. Number one on the list is Uganda, with approximately 29 million English speakers. This country achieved its independence in 1962, and English has become the official language since then. However, Luanda is presently the most spoken language as well as the official language. 2. South Africa.
