Press "PandaGuides" above to follow us!
A recent ranking of the top 25 countries by English proficiency has sparked interest among language learners and educators alike. This ranking, originally shared on the Voronoi app, relies on data from the EF English Proficiency Index, which compiled the test results of 2.2 million adults across 113 countries. Notably, countries where English is the primary language - such as the UK, U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - were not included in this list.
The assessment classifies English proficiency into five bands based on the EF Standard English Test (EF SET) scores:
Very high proficiency: 600+
High proficiency: 550-599
Moderate proficiency: 500-549
Low proficiency: 450-499
Very low proficiency: <450
According to the data, the Netherlands tops the list with an impressive average score of 647, categorizing it as having "very high proficiency." Following closely are Singapore and Austria, with average scores of 631 and 616, respectively. The rankings continue with Denmark (615), Norway (614), and Sweden (609), while Belgium (608) and Portugal (607) round out the top eight.
Interestingly, South Africa and Germany also made the top ten, with average scores of 605 and 604, respectively. Eleven countries share the "very high proficiency" designation, all boasting average scores exceeding 600.
Europe has demonstrated significant progress in English proficiency, with an average increase of 50 points since 2011. Latin America and the Middle East followed with improvements of 42 and 36 points, respectively. However, a concerning trend is observed globally: English proficiency among individuals aged 18-20 has notably declined. This age group, which averaged 537 points (moderate proficiency) in 2015, dropped to an average of just 448 points, falling into the "very low proficiency" category by 2023.
Netizens have expressed their thoughts on the rankings. One user commented, “It’s impressive how well many European countries are mastering English. It’s becoming essential in today’s globalized world.” Another noted, “The drop in proficiency among younger people is alarming. We need to invest more in English education.”
While some applaud the results, others call for a renewed focus on language education to address the declining scores among younger generations. As English continues to serve as a global lingua franca, these rankings highlight both achievements and areas needing attention in language proficiency worldwide.
