Where is English spoken best as a second language? The EF EPI 2023 offers a view of language results in different countries, from high scores in Europe to lower scores in developing countries.
What is the EF EPI?
EF (Education First) is an international education company specialising in language programmes, academic travel and cultural exchange. Its EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) measures English proficiency among adults in more than 100 countries and territories, based on test results collected by EF.
The study’s results cover a wide range: from high scores in Europe to low scores in developing countries.
Western and Northern Europe among the leaders
Western and Northern European countries stand out among the study’s findings. The Netherlands is at the top of the ranking and demonstrates impressive results.
The example of Singapore
Singapore came second with a score of 631 out of 800. It shows how a strong economy and education system can support linguistic success, even outperforming the Philippines, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Countries with lower scores
China scored 464 points. This shows that enormous economic potential does not always guarantee a high level of language proficiency. Thailand, despite its popularity among tourists, recorded one of the lowest levels of English proficiency — 416 out of 800.
Scores mentioned in the article
- Singapore: 631 out of 800, second place.
- China: 464 points.
- Thailand: 416 out of 800.
Sources
- Katharina Buchholz, “The Countries With the Best English Speakers”.
- EF’s English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 2023 Report.
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