English Proficiency by Country 2025
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5 Countries with the Highest English Proficiency
Country | English Proficiency EF Index Score 2023 (0-800)↓ | EF Proficiency Band 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Netherlands | 647 | Very high |
 | Singapore | 631 | Very high |
 | Austria | 616 | Very high |
 | Denmark | 615 | Very high |
 | Norway | 614 | Very high |
 | Sweden | 609 | Very high |
 | Belgium | 608 | Very high |
 | Portugal | 607 | Very high |
 | South Africa | 605 | Very high |
 | Germany | 604 | Very high |
 | Croatia | 603 | Very high |
 | Greece | 602 | Very high |
 | Poland | 598 | High |
 | Finland | 597 | High |
 | Romania | 596 | High |
 | Bulgaria | 589 | High |
 | Hungary | 588 | High |
 | Slovakia | 587 | High |
 | Kenya | 584 | High |
 | Philippines | 578 | High |
 | Lithuania | 576 | High |
 | Luxembourg | 575 | High |
 | Estonia | 570 | High |
 | Serbia | 569 | High |
 | Malaysia | 568 | High |
 | Czech Republic | 565 | High |
 | Nigeria | 562 | High |
 | Argentina | 560 | High |
 | Hong Kong | 558 | High |
 | Switzerland | 553 | High |
 | Honduras | 544 | Moderate |
 | Georgia | 541 | Moderate |
 | Belarus | 539 | Moderate |
 | Ghana | 537 | Moderate |
 | Italy | 535 | Moderate |
 | Spain | 535 | Moderate |
 | Costa Rica | 535 | Moderate |
 | Moldova | 535 | Moderate |
 | Albania | 534 | Moderate |
 | Uruguay | 533 | Moderate |
 | Russia | 532 | Moderate |
 | Bolivia | 532 | Moderate |
 | France | 531 | Moderate |
 | Cuba | 531 | Moderate |
 | Ukraine | 530 | Moderate |
 | Paraguay | 530 | Moderate |
 | Uganda | 529 | Moderate |
 | Armenia | 528 | Moderate |
 | South Korea | 525 | Moderate |
 | El Salvador | 524 | Moderate |
 | Peru | 521 | Moderate |
 | Chile | 518 | Moderate |
 | Guatemala | 515 | Moderate |
 | Israel | 514 | Moderate |
 | Dominican Republic | 512 | Moderate |
 | Venezuela | 508 | Moderate |
 | Nepal | 507 | Moderate |
 | Vietnam | 505 | Moderate |
 | Iran | 505 | Moderate |
 | India | 504 | Moderate |
 | Bangladesh | 504 | Moderate |
 | Nicaragua | 503 | Moderate |
 | Tunisia | 502 | Moderate |
 | Pakistan | 497 | Low |
 | Lebanon | 496 | Low |
 | Turkey | 493 | Low |
 | Tanzania | 491 | Low |
 | Sri Lanka | 491 | Low |
 | Ethiopia | 490 | Low |
 | Brazil | 487 | Low |
 | United Arab Emirates | 486 | Low |
 | Panama | 486 | Low |
 | Mongolia | 482 | Low |
 | Qatar | 482 | Low |
 | Colombia | 480 | Low |
 | Morocco | 478 | Low |
 | Algeria | 475 | Low |
 | Madagascar | 474 | Low |
 | Indonesia | 473 | Low |
 | Syria | 467 | Low |
 | Ecuador | 467 | Low |
 | China | 464 | Low |
 | Egypt | 463 | Low |
 | Azerbaijan | 463 | Low |
 | Kuwait | 461 | Low |
 | Malawi | 460 | Low |
 | Japan | 457 | Low |
 | Afghanistan | 456 | Low |
 | Mexico | 451 | Low |
 | Myanmar | 450 | Low |
 | Kyrgyzstan | 450 | Low |
 | Palestine | 445 | Very low |
 | Uzbekistan | 442 | Very low |
 | Cameroon | 438 | Very low |
 | Senegal | 438 | Very low |
 | Jordan | 431 | Very low |
 | Sudan | 430 | Very low |
 | Cambodia | 421 | Very low |
 | Haiti | 421 | Very low |
 | Oman | 418 | Very low |
 | Thailand | 416 | Very low |
 | Angola | 416 | Very low |
 | Benin | 416 | Very low |
 | Kazakhstan | 415 | Very low |
 | Somalia | 411 | Very low |
 | Iraq | 410 | Very low |
 | Ivory Coast | 410 | Very low |
 | Saudi Arabia | 409 | Very low |
 | Rwanda | 408 | Very low |
 | Yemen | 392 | Very low |
 | Libya | 392 | Very low |
 | Tajikistan | 388 | Very low |
 | DR Congo | 385 | Very low |
- The premiere global measure of English language proficiency is the Education First English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), which tracks English proficiency in approximately 111 countries in which English is not the primary language. Countries that are not tracked but the EF EPI, such as Taiwan and Monaco, have been left blank.
Top 10 Countries with the Highest English Proficiency
Country | English Proficiency EF Index Score 2023 (0-800) |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | 647 |
| Singapore | 631 |
| Austria | 616 |
| Denmark | 615 |
| Norway | 614 |
| Sweden | 609 |
| Belgium | 608 |
| Portugal | 607 |
| South Africa | 605 |
| Germany | 604 |
1. Netherlands
Based on the EF EPI test, the Netherlands scored 647, indicating a very high proficiency in English. Anything above 600 is considered proficient. Narrowing down the test results further, Amsterdam earned the highest score of 646, suggesting the most proficient English speakers are centered in major urban cities.
2. Singapore
The first non-European country on the list ranking the highest English proficient countries is Singapore. Based on the EF EPI test, Singapore earned a 631, denoting it a very high proficiency country. This most recent test is one of the highest Singapore has ever placed for English proficiency, the highest being 635 in the preceding year.
3. Austria
According to the EF EPI test, Austria scored 616, earning the title of the third-most English proficient country. In the previous report, Austria was listed as the second most proficient, indicating a slight drop in ranking. Vienna was among the top cities for English proficiency when examining individual cities.
4. Denmark
The fourth most English-proficient country is Denmark, scoring a 615. Although lower than other countries, this score still makes the country extremely proficient.
5. Norway
The 5th most English proficient country is Norway, another European country. Norway earned a 614 on the exam, still qualifying it as an extremely proficient English-speaking country. Norway rounds out the top five most English-proficient countries.
6. Sweden
Placing sixth, Sweden achieved an EF EPI score of 609. Notably, Stockholm ranked among the top five cities worldwide for English proficiency, with a score of 637.
7. Belgium
Belgium makes the list to continue the trend that European countries are more proficient in English than other countries. Belgium scored a 608, indicating it has a very high proficiency in English.
8. Portugal
Portugal is a very high English-proficient country scoring an average score of 607 on the EF EPI proficiency test. This score is in line with other European countries, and it follows that the most proficient areas of Portugal are in the central city regions.
What Age Group Is Most Proficient in English?
The age group most proficient in English in 2022 was between 26 and 40. This age range earned an average of 529 on the EF EPI test. The next most proficient age group was the 21 to 25-year-olds, scoring a 517, and the group of people aged 41 and older scored a 500. Alarmingly, the 18-20 year age group was the least proficient in English. A perfect score on the test is a 700.
What Industries Are Most Proficient?
Although younger age groups did not test as well for English proficiency, it makes sense when the test takers’ occupation is considered. The most proficient industries were those surrounding engineering, consulting, or information technology. Generally, the 26 to 40-year age range coincides with experienced working professionals.
