The Indomitable Lions have climbed one place in the list issued by football’s world governing body, to 14th.
England drop back to 15th, having played just one game – a 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic.
Their ranking declines because previous results lose significance as time passes.
Ghana are the second-ranked African side – also dropping a place to 20th, whilst Egypt remain third on the continental list, just behind Ghana in 21st.
Further down the table, Gabon and Algeria have both made big leaps upward.
Gabon, co-hosts of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, went up 12 spots to 62.
Algeria rose by 14 places to 76.
In the global rankings, Spain remain on top with Italy replacing Germany in second spot.
Fifa rankings (previous position in brackets):
-1. (1) Spain
-2. (3) Italy
-3. (2) Germany
-4. (4) Netherlands
-5. (5) Croatia
-6. (6) Brazil
-7. (7) Argentina
-8. (8) Czech Republic
-9. (9) Portugal
-10. (13) Turkey
-11. (12) France
-12. (10) Russia
-13. (11) Romania
-14. (15) Cameroon
-15. (14) England
-16 (16) Scotland
-16 (17) Bulgaria
-18. (18) Greece
-19. (20) Israel
-20. (19) Ghana
-21. (21) Egypt
-23. (25) Cöte d’Ivoire
-27. (27) Nigeria
BBC
