EF EPI

EF English Proficiency Index

A Ranking of 113 Countries and Regions by English Skills

www.ef.com/epi

EF SET
EF Standard English Test
Take the free test at
www.efset.org

2023
 Participate in the EF EPI: take the free EF SET at efset.org

Table of Contents

04 Executive Summary
06 EF EPI 2023 Ranking of Countries and Regions
08 EF EPI 2023 City Scores
10 EF EPI 2023 Facts and Figures
12 English and the Economy
13 English and Innovation
14 English and Work
16 English and Society
17 English and the Future
18 Europe
20 Asia
22 Latin America
24 Africa
26 Middle East
28 Proficiency Detail
40 Conclusions
42 Recommendations
44 Appendix A: About the Index
46 Appendix B: EF EPI Proficiency Bands
47 Appendix C: CEFR Levels and Can-Do Statements
48 Appendix D: EF EPI Country and Region Rankings

2 www.ef.com/epi 3
Executive Summary
Learning a language isn't about translating words; it's about coming to understand
other cultures. As we learn, we come to understand the broader context, see
things from new perspectives. These are valuable skills which, along with empathy
and innovation, remain beyond the reach of AI.

The same benefits come with any additional An illusion of global stability English proficiency is rising Is East Asia turning away from English? Latin America is improving, North Africa is improving
language we learn but English is in a unique The population-weighted worldwide in the workforce Adult English proficiency has been waning in except its young people English proficiency in North Africa has been
position in the modern world, not because average English proficiency level among Working adults have been improving East Asia the past 4 years, and in Japan for In regard to English, Latin America is a improving steadily over the past decade,
of the language itself but because so many adults has not changed since 2011, but their English since 2015, the first year in an entire decade. That decline accelerated region in flux. Central America’s level has although the pace of improvement has
people speak it. The larger the English- looking back over the past decade, the which we reported scores by age group. this year with both Japan and China improved more than any other region in the slowed since 2021. It’s too early to say if
speaking population, the more useful picture is not one of a world in which These gains are happening too quickly to experiencing significant changes. During world over the past decade at an average proficiency will settle at this new level or
speaking English becomes. everyone’s English stays about the same. be explained entirely by younger, more the same period, the number of university pace of 6 points a year. South America has continue rise. Universities appear to be
Instead, gains in one group are offset by proficient English speakers aging up. Adults students from East Asia enrolled in US also improved steadily. On the other hand, contributing to these gains as proficiency is
The value of a shared language is most losses in another, as circumstances change are building proficiency in the workplace universities dropped significantly (-20% for Mexico has seen a significant decline and highest among 20-25 year olds. Discussions
perceptible in the workplace, where English and priorities shift. We’re a long way from too, either through sanctioned training South Korea in 2023 compared to 2020; both Mexico and Argentina are drivers of continue around the roles of English and
opens up opportunities for individuals the catastrophic predictions of worldwide schemes or personal development on the -30% for China). Pandemic-related travel the worldwide drop among 18–20-year-olds French in the education systems of the
and boosts both diversity and efficiency English hegemony, but we’re also no nearer side. This finding coincides with increasing restrictions played a role, but declining since 2015. The region as a whole saw a region.
for organizations. But in fact, as we face to equalizing access to the opportunities demand for professional English courses English proficiency is likely symptomatic of larger-than-average erosion in youth English
the climate catastrophe, war and other speaking English affords. over the past decade as companies and broader political and demographic shifts proficiency during the pandemic, from Across Africa, English proficiency levels are
global challenges together, the need for employees seek to bridge the gap between as well as growing confidence questioning which it has not yet recovered. largely stable with all age groups testing
international communication, cross-cultural Young people’s English is the requirements of a globalized workplace Western cultural hegemony in education. at similar levels in most countries. The
understanding and human empathy in all declining in some places and the English skills learned in mainstream Europe plateaus gap between men and women in Africa is
areas of our lives has never been greater. It Our youngest age group (18-20) has education. The Middle East looks stuck Despite dominating the top of the index, the narrowest of any region and, with few
is in this context that we continue to gather declining English proficiency. However, this The average level of English proficiency Europe is in a bit of a slump this year with exceptions, gender gaps are narrow at the
data about English proficiency and publish is a case where what looks like a worldwide The gender gap is widening again in the Middle East has improved over the a number of high and very high proficiency national level as well.
this annual report investigating how and trend is actually only a trend in a few large Worldwide over the past decade, men’s past decade, but only due to the addition of countries reporting slightly lower scores.
where English proficiency is developing countries. In most places, youth English English proficiency has improved while higher proficiency countries to the index. At Starting from an already high base, the
around the world. proficiency has been stable, or if it has women’s has declined slightly, inversing their a national level, we’ve seen few significant longer-term trend in Europe has been one
Language is an essential part of sharing
declined, that drop aligns neatly with the relative positions. Although the majority of changes, apart from Lebanon—the past of steady improvement, both in and outside
To create the 2023 edition of the EF English perspectives and building understanding.
interruption of education systems during countries do not have a significant gender two years have been devastating and this is the EU. Still, several of Europe’s largest
Proficiency Index, we have analyzed the This is true of all languages, but because
the pandemic. It is not yet clear if learning gap, of those that do, 38 favor men and only reflected in their test scores. economies (France, Spain, Italy) have not
results of 2.2 million adults who took our English is spoken by people around the
loss due to COVID will self-correct over 5 favor women. The workplace would seem reached the same proficiency level as
EF SET English tests in 2022, with a world, it's uniquely positioned to draw
time, but in subsequent cohorts we would like an obvious culprit: if people are building The region has some of the narrowest age- their neighbors, and some of the highest
particular emphasis on proficiency trends us closer across borders. More people
expect to see a rebound. The more difficult proficiency at work, that’s an area where related proficiency differences in the world, proficiency countries in Northern Europe
around the world since the publication of deserve the opportunity to be part of that
challenge is for those countries experiencing women are still underrepresented, especially with all age groups testing at similar levels. have gender gaps in favor of men of more
the first EF EPI in 2011. conversation.
a longer decline among the youngest cohort, in higher paying, more international jobs. But This is typical of a population with stable than 40 points.
where education systems are teaching the gender gap among those aged 18-25 skills, as any effective educational reform
English less well than before. Readers can would be reflected among the young, and The rest of Asia is predominantly stable
is three times as wide as among working
consult country-specific proficiency trends any effective workplace training scheme South and Southeast Asia have seen a slight
adults, indicating a problem engendered
by age group on the EF EPI website. would raise levels in working adults. Stability drop in their level of English on average,
by educational systems themselves or a
would not be problematic if proficiency although many countries in the region
societal problem schools are failing to
levels were higher, but as it is, the level of have stable or modestly rising scores. The
address. This is surprising given progress
English in the region is insufficient for most regional averages are impacted by India’s
in equalizing access to education, female
professional and higher education settings. level of English proficiency, which has
overrepresentation in higher education
been declining slowly over several years.
and girls’ overall better academic results.
In addition, the progress Thailand was
Countries with high and rising levels of
making until 2020 has been erased by the
gender-based skill imbalance will need to
pandemic. English proficiency in Central
investigate further.
Asia is low and stable, with higher-than-
average gender gaps in favor of men in
almost every country.

4 www.ef.com/epi 5
EF EPI 2023
Ranking of Countries and Regions

Proficiency Bands

Very High

High

Moderate

Low

Very Low

Very High Proficiency High Proficiency Moderate Proficiency Low Proficiency Very Low Proficiency
01 Netherlands 647 13 Poland 598 31 Honduras 544 48 Armenia 528 64 Pakistan 497 78 Madagascar 474 92 Palestine 445 105 Somalia 411
02 Singapore 631 14 Finland 597 32 Georgia 541 49 South Korea 525 65 Lebanon 496 79 Indonesia 473 93 Uzbekistan 442 106 Iraq 410
03 Austria 616 15 Romania 596 33 Belarus 539 50 El Salvador 524 66 Turkey 493 80 Ecuador 467 94 Cameroon 438 107 Côte d'Ivoire 409
04 Denmark 615 16 Bulgaria 589 34 Ghana 537 51 Peru 521 67 Sri Lanka 491 80 Syria 467 94 Senegal 438 108 Saudi Arabia 408
05 Norway 614 17 Hungary 588 35 Italy 535 52 Chile 518 67 Tanzania 491 82 China 464 96 Jordan 431 109 Rwanda 405
06 Sweden 609 18 Slovakia 587 35 Moldova 535 53 Guatemala 515 69 Ethiopia 490 83 Azerbaijan 463 97 Sudan 430 110 Libya 392
07 Belgium 608 19 Kenya 584 35 Spain 535 54 Israel 514 70 Brazil 487 83 Egypt 463 98 Cambodia 421 110 Yemen 392
08 Portugal 607 20 Philippines 578 38 Costa Rica 534 55 Dominican Republic 512 71 Panama 486 85 Kuwait 461 98 Haiti 421 112 Tajikistan 388
09 South Africa 605 21 Lithuania 576 39 Albania 533 56 Venezuela 508 71 United Arab Emirates 486 86 Malawi 460 100 Oman 418 113 Democratic 385
Republic of the
10 Germany 604 22 Luxembourg 575 39 Uruguay 533 57 Nepal 507 73 Mongolia 482 87 Japan 457 101 Angola 416
Congo
11 Croatia 603 23 Estonia 570 41 Bolivia 532 58 Iran 505 73 Qatar 482 88 Afghanistan 456 101 Benin 416
12 Greece 602 24 Serbia 569 41 Russia 532 58 Vietnam 505 75 Colombia 480 89 Mexico 451 101 Thailand 416
25 Malaysia 568 43 Cuba 531 60 Bangladesh 504 76 Morocco 478 90 Kyrgyzstan 450 104 Kazakhstan 415
26 Czech Republic 565 43 France 531 60 India 504 77 Algeria 475 90 Myanmar 450
27 Nigeria 562 45 Paraguay 530 62 Nicaragua 503
28 Argentina 560 45 Ukraine 530 63 Tunisia 502
29 Hong Kong 558 47 Uganda 529
(China)
30 Switzerland 553
6 www.ef.com/epi 7
EF EPI 2023 City Scores

Proficiency Bands

Very High

High

Moderate

Low

Very Low

Very High Proficiency High Proficiency Moderate Proficiency Low Proficiency Very Low Proficiency English proficiency scores
for over 1200 regions and cities,
Amsterdam 646 Belgrade 594 Asunción 549 Dhaka 521 Panama City 491 Kuwait City 446 Baghdad 425 as well as national and regional
Vienna 640 Bratislava 592 Minsk 549 Guatemala City 521 Nur-Sultan 485 Tashkent 445 Phnom Penh 422 gender and age data, are
Copenhagen 639 Buenos Aires 592 Montevideo 549 Tehran 521 Bishkek 484 Mogadishu 442 Kinshasa 421 available at www.ef.com/epi.
Stockholm 637 Brussels 589 San José 549 Kampala 520 Doha 484 Khartoum 440 Tripoli 410
Oslo 629 Prague 589 Kiev 547 Addis Ababa 515 Damascus 477 Muscat 436 Kigali 409
Berlin 625 Manila 587 Beirut 545 Dar Es Salaam 515 Cairo 476 Yaoundé 436 Sana'a 408
Sofia 622 Nairobi 586 Havana 543 Beijing 514 Guangzhou 475 Nay Pyi Taw 433 Riyadh 400
Bern 621 Paris 579 Brasilia 542 Algiers 513 Amman 470 Luanda 428 Dushanbe 392
Talinn 621 Lagos 578 Moscow 542 Quito 513 Baku 466 Port-au-Prince 427
Helsinki 617 Chișinău 573 Hanoi 538 Rio de Janeiro 513 Mexico City 462 Abidjan 425
Cape Town 614 Kuala Lumpur 564 Islamabad 538 Shanghai 512 Kabul 458
Zagreb 612 La Paz 562 Erevan 536 Managua 511 Bangkok 457
Athens 611 Seoul 559 Lima 536 Dubai 510 Delhi 451
Vilnius 610 Tirana 559 San Salvador 534 Rabat 506
Lisbon 609 Madrid 558 Tunis 533 Ankara 503
Warsaw 605 Rome 555 Jakarta 531 Tokyo 503
Bucharest 602 Santiago 553 Colombo 528 Jerusalem 500
Budapest 600 Accra 552 Santo Domingo 528 Medellín 500
Tblisi 551 Kathmandu 527 Ulaanbaatar 500
Tegucigalpa 551 Caracas 521

8 www.ef.com/epi 9
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EF EPI 2023 Facts and Figures

Who are the test takers? Global age trends (2015 - 2023)

2.2M
550
+12pt +19pt

99%
+14pt

Total Test Takers

55%
500
aged 18-60 -5pt

Female

450
Middle East Europe -89pt

26
13 34

Latin
America 113 Years
old
45%
400
20 Countries
and Regions Africa Median Age 18-20 21-25 26-30 31-40 41+
Asia 23
23 Male

Regional trends (2011 - 2023) Global gender trends (2014 - 2023) Female Male

600 550

+50pt

550

+15pt +42pt +9pt +14pt

500 500
-19pt

+36pt
450

400 450

Europe Asia Latin America Africa Middle East 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

10 www.ef.com/epi 11
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English and the Economy English and Innovation

Simple measures of wealth and GRAPH A Throughout history, scholars have GRAPH C
trade correlate consistently with learned each other's languages in
English proficiency, however, those
English and Productivity order to keep up with the latest
English and Talent Competitiveness
relationships aren’t as strong as the Productive Capacities Index ideas and participate in academic Global Talent Competitiveness Index
ones with more complex indicators discussions beyond the confines
of economic balance, productivity, 60 of their nation's borders. Indeed, 90
and potential. In this way English is innovation and research depends
80
like other skills in a modern on the frictionless flow of ideas and
workforce: English alone doesn't 50 information. Over the past century, 70
raise wages or increase trade, but as English has gained traction as a
more efficient workforces tend to global language, its use has spread 60
speak better English. 40 into increasingly varied domains,
50
further accelerating innovation.
Thanks to the power of AI, we may
40
30 eventually innovate our way out of
linguistic constraints, but until we 30
do, people can only collaborate
20 effectively to drive research forward 20
when they speak the same language.
10
r=0.66 r=0.61
10 0
350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700

EF EPI Score EF EPI Score

Source: United Nations Conference of Trade and Development, 2020 Source: Lanvin & Monteiro, 2022

Proficiency Bands GRAPH B Proficiency Bands GRAPH D

Very High English and Human Capital Very High English and Global Innovation
High Human Development Index High Global Innovation Index

Moderate 1.2 Moderate 70

Low Low 60
Very Low 1 Very Low
50

0.8 40

30
0.6

20

0.4
10
r=0.57 r=0.59
0.2 0
350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700

EF EPI Score EF EPI Score

Source: United Nations Development Programme, 2022 Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 2022

12 www.ef.com/epi 13
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English and Work

Differences in levels of English EF EPI by Industry For many professionals, having a EF EPI by Job Function
proficiency between industries are lower-than-average level of English
most likely a direct consequence of proficiency is a barrier to career
EF EPI Score 300 400 500 600 EF EPI Score 350 400 450 500 550
hiring practices and varying levels progression and limits access to
of investment in English training information. When a promotion
programs. Their persistence in Aviation means relocating to a more central IT
the private sector is somewhat Media, Sports & Entertainment office with more international teams,
surprising given the level of non-English-speakers are stuck. The Accounting & Finance
international integration and Professional services problem is particularly acute for those
Strategy & Planning
competition in all industries. in maintenance and clerical roles
Food & Beverage
Government and non-profit where English proficiency is weaker Marketing
employers do their staff a disservice Information Technology and opportunities to speak English
Human Resources
by providing them with fewer at work more scarce. Employers
upskilling opportunities than they Education can help by identifying individuals R&D
would get elsewhere. Engineering who may be struggling, funding
targeted training programs and Purchasing & Procurement
Logistics & Transportation creating opportunities for teams from
Customer Service
different countries to collaborate.
Fast-moving Consumer Goods
Fields like programming, accounting Sales
Pharmaceuticals and marketing, which appear near
Legal
the top of this list, are especially
Medical devices suited to remote work, potentially Operations
Automotive putting candidates for these roles in
competition with a more international Admin & Clerical
Construction pool of applicants. Technicans & Maintenance
Retail

Banking & Finance

Manufacturing Proficiency Bands Very High High Moderate Low Very Low

Mining & Energy

Apparel
Over the past decade, English EF EPI by Seniority
Insurance proficiency levels have become
increasingly homogenous between
Chemicals EF EPI Score 350 400 450 500 550
seniority levels, perhaps as a
Telecommunications consequence of the closing
proficiency gap between World
Healthcare adults of different ages and the
Electronics
internationalization of tertiary
education and career paths. Middle East
Agriculture Executives are often recruited from
a borderless pool of candidates,
Non-profit Latin America
especially in Asia, Europe and Latin
Government America where proficiency levels in
this group are nearly identical. We
would also expect to see a closing of Europe
the proficiency gap between seniority
levels in countries actively prioritizing
Proficiency Bands Very High High Moderate Low Very Low
the hiring and training of local talent. Asia

Africa

Executive Manager Staff

14 www.ef.com/epi 15
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English and Society English and the Future

For individuals, speaking English GRAPH E While speaking English allows GRAPH G
opens doors—broader access to people to study abroad, work for
information, a higher salary, more
English and Social Mobility global companies and tap into
English and the Environment
varied educational opportunities and Global Social Mobility Index international research, it also Environmental Performance Index
greater independence from one’s allows them to engage with people
local labor market. Most people 90 outside their bubble, gaining 90
who learn English pick up the basics awareness of their lifestyles and
80
in formal instructional settings. As 80 priorities, the injustices they suffer
a consequence, unequal access to and their dreams for the future. The 70
good English instruction, like other 70 value of a more interconnected
deficiencies in educational access, world is difficult to estimate, but 60
is an inequality multiplier, curbing global threats like the climate crisis
60 50
people’s potential and transmitting can only be addressed if we raise
injustice from one generation the level of international solidarity
50 40
to the next. and cooperation.
30
40
20
30
10
r=0.62 r=0.61
20 0
350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700

EF EPI Score EF EPI Score

Source: World Economic Forum, 2020 Source: Yale University, 2022

Proficiency Bands GRAPH F Proficiency Bands GRAPH H

Very High English and Gender Equality Very High English and Freedom
High Global Gender Gap Index (inverse) High Global Freedom Scores

Moderate 1.0 Moderate 120

Low Low
0.9 100
Very Low Very Low
0.8
80

0.7
60
0.6

40
0.5

20
0.4
r=0.52 r=0.68
0.3 0
350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700

EF EPI Score EF EPI Score

Source: World Economic Forum, 2023 Source: Freedom House, 2023

16 www.ef.com/epi 17
 Proficiency distribution (2011 - 2023)
Finland
Norway
100%
Sweden
Estonia

75%

Denmark Russia
Lithuania
50%
Belarus

Netherlands Germany
Poland 25%
Belgium
Ukraine
Czech Republic
Luxembourg
Slovakia 0%
France
Austria Moldova
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Hungary
Switzerland
Percentage of European countries in each proficiency band over time
Croatia Romania
Serbia

Italy Bulgaria
Albania Georgia

Spain
Turkey
Armenia Age trends (2015 - 2023)
Azerbaijan
Portugal
Greece
600

+41pt +58pt
+79pt
550

-6pt +88pt

500

EUROPE 450

18-20 21-25 26-30 31-40 41+

EF EPI Rankings

01 Netherlands 647 15 Romania 596 35 Italy 535

03 Austria 616 16 Bulgaria 589 35 Moldova 535
04 Denmark 615 17 Hungary 588 35 Spain 535
05 Norway 614 18 Slovakia 587 39 Albania 533 Gender trends (2014 - 2023) Female Male
06 Sweden 609 21 Lithuania 576 41 Russia 532
600
07 Belgium 608 22 Luxembourg 575 43 France 531
08 Portugal 607 23 Estonia 570 45 Ukraine 530
10 Germany 604 24 Serbia 569 48 Armenia 528
11 Croatia 603 26 Czech Republic 565 66 Turkey 493
+46pt
12 Greece 602 30 Switzerland 553 83 Azerbaijan 463
13 Poland 598 32 Georgia 541
550
14 Finland 597 33 Belarus 539
+19pt

Proficiency Bands Very High High Moderate Low Very Low

500

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
18 www.ef.com/epi
 Proficiency distribution (2011 - 2023)
Kazakhstan 100%

Mongolia
75%

Kyrgyzstan 50%
Uzbekistan
China
Tajikistan

South Korea 25%

Japan
Afghanistan

Pakistan
0%
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
India
Nepal
Percentage of Asian countries and regions in each proficiency band over time

Bangladesh

Vietnam
Hong Kong (China)
Myanmar

Age trends (2015 - 2023)

Thailand Philippines
550
Cambodia

Sri Lanka

500
Malaysia +7pt +11pt +16pt
-55pt
Singapore

+11pt
450

Indonesia

ASIA 400

18-20 21-25 26-30 31-40 41+

EF EPI Rankings

2 Singapore 631 64 Pakistan 497 93 Uzbekistan 442

20 Philippines 578 67 Sri Lanka 491 98 Cambodia 421
25 Malaysia 568 73 Mongolia 482 101 Thailand 416
Gender trends (2014 - 2023) Female Male

29 Hong Kong (China) 558 79 Indonesia 473 104 Kazakhstan 415

550
49 South Korea 525 82 China 464 112 Tajikistan 388
57 Nepal 507 87 Japan 457
58 Vietnam 505 88 Afghanistan 456
60 Bangladesh 504 90 Kyrgyzstan 450
60 India 504 90 Myanmar 450 +10pt
500

-30pt
Proficiency Bands Very High High Moderate Low Very Low

450

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
20 www.ef.com/epi
 Proficiency distribution (2011 - 2023)
100%
Cuba
Mexico

Dominican Republic
Haiti
Guatemala 75%
Honduras

El Salvador Nicaragua

Costa Rica Venezuela 50%

Panama

Colombia

25%
Ecuador

0%
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Peru
Percentage of Latin American countries in each proficiency band over time

Bolivia

Brazil
Paraguay
Age trends (2015 - 2023)

550

Uruguay
Chile
Argentina

+39pt
500
+59pt
+5pt

LATIN
-57pt +28pt

450

AMERICA 400

18-20 21-25 26-30 31-40 41+

EF EPI Rankings

28 Argentina 560 53 Guatemala 515

31 Honduras 544 55 Dominican Republic 512
Gender trends (2014 - 2023) Female Male
38 Costa Rica 534 56 Venezuela 508
39 Uruguay 533 62 Nicaragua 503
550
41 Bolivia 532 70 Brazil 487
43 Cuba 531 71 Panama 486
45 Paraguay 530 75 Colombia 480
50 El Salvador 524 80 Ecuador 467
51 Peru 521 89 Mexico 451 +25pt
52 Chile 518 98 Haiti 421 500

-1pt
Proficiency Bands Very High High Moderate Low Very Low

450

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
22 www.ef.com/epi
 Proficiency distribution (2012 - 2023)
Algeria Tunisia
100%
Morocco
Libya

Egypt
75%

50%

25%
Sudan
Senegal

Benin 0%
Nigeria
Ethiopia 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Côte d'Ivoire
Ghana
Percentage of African countries in each proficiency band over time
Cameroon
Somalia

Uganda Kenya

Democratic Republic
Rwanda
Age trends (2017 - 2023)
Tanzania
of the Congo

550
Angola

Malawi

+24pt
Madagascar +9pt
500 +7pt
-6pt
+27pt

AFRICA South Africa

450

18-20 21-25 26-30 31-40 41+

EF EPI Rankings

9 South Africa 605 78 Madagascar 474 109 Rwanda 405

19 Kenya 584 83 Egypt 463 110 Libya 392
Gender trends (2017 - 2023) Female Male
27 Nigeria 562 86 Malawi 460 113 Democratic 385
Republic of the
34 Ghana 537 94 Cameroon 438 550
Congo
47 Uganda 529 94 Senegal 438
63 Tunisia 502 97 Sudan 430
67 Tanzania 491 101 Angola 416
69 Ethiopia 490 101 Benin 416
76 Morocco 478 105 Somalia 411
77 Algeria 475 107 Côte d'Ivoire 409 500 +27pt

-13pt

Proficiency Bands Very High High Moderate Low Very Low

450

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

24 www.ef.com/epi
 Proficiency distribution (2011 - 2023)
100%

Iran
75%
Lebanon
Syria
Iraq
Palestine
50%
Israel Jordan

Kuwait
25%

Qatar 0%
Saudi Arabia
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
United Arab Emirates
Oman Percentage of Middle Eastern countries in each proficiency band over time

Age trends (2017 - 2023)

500
Yemen

450

+38pt +58pt
+53pt

MIDDLE
+14pt
+17pt
400

EAST 350

18-20 21-25 26-30 31-40 41+

EF EPI Rankings

54 Israel 514 92 Palestine 445

58 Iran 505 96 Jordan 431
Gender trends (2014 - 2023) Female Male
65 Lebanon 496 100 Oman 418
71 United Arab Emirates 486 106 Iraq 410 500
73 Qatar 482 108 Saudi Arabia 408
80 Syria 467 110 Yemen 392
85 Kuwait 461

+44pt

450

+29pt

Proficiency Bands Very High High Moderate Low Very Low

400

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
26 www.ef.com/epi
Proficiency Detail
For full details, please visit: www.ef.com/epi

Belarus
Afghanistan
EF EPI score: 456
88 Albania
EF EPI score: 533
39 Algeria
EF EPI score: 475
77 EF EPI score: 539 33
Belgium
EF EPI score: 608
7 Bolivia
EF EPI score: 532
41
2023 2023
2023 2023 2023 2023
2018 2018 2018
2011
2013 2018

442 471 528 535 470 483 548 531 599 625 520 545

Top region: West (476) Top region: Algiers* (504) Top region: Minsk Region (548) Top region: West Flanders (682) Top regions: Cochabamba* & La Paz* (561)
Top city: Herat (478) Top city: Tirana (559) Top city: Algiers (513) Top city: Grodno (551) Top cities: Ghent & Leuven (696) Top cities: Cochabamba & La Paz (562)
Top age group: 26-30 (average score 462) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 534) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 499) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 546) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 650) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 553)
* not identical to city * not identical to city

Angola Argentina Armenia Brazil Bulgaria Cambodia

EF EPI score: 416
101 EF EPI score: 560 28 EF EPI score: 528 48 EF EPI score: 487
70 EF EPI score: 589
16 EF EPI score: 421
98

2023 2023 2023 2023

2023
2017 2023 2020 2016
2011 2014
2011

424 412 554 567 519 542 476 499 578 600 419 427

Top region: Córdoba (586) Top region: Santa Catarina (555)

Top city: Mar del Plata (611) Top city: Erevan (536) Top city: Florianópolis (584) Top city: Sofia (622) Top city: Phnom Penh (422)
Top age group: 21-25 (average score 436) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 581) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 540) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 513) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 606)

Austria
EF EPI score: 616
3 Azerbaijan
EF EPI score: 463
83 Bangladesh
EF EPI score: 504 60
Cameroon
EF EPI score: 438
94 Chile
EF EPI score: 518
52 China
EF EPI score: 464
82

2023 2023 2023

2023 2023
2015 2017 2017
2011 2011 2023
2011

603 629 459 470 513 503 428 455 505 531 465 463

Top region: Vienna (640) Top region: Dhaka (519) Top region: Northwest (492) Top region: Valparaíso* (554) Top region: Hong Kong (558)
Top city: Graz (668) Top city: Baku (466) Top city: Chattogram (530) Top city: Bamenda (491) Top city: Concepción (572) Top city: Hangzhou (509)
Top age group: 26-30 (average score 651) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 468) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 506) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 555) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 490)
* not identical to city

28 www.ef.com/epi 29
Proficiency Detail
For full details, please visit: www.ef.com/epi

Colombia
EF EPI score: 480
75 Costa Rica
EF EPI score: 534
38 Côte d'Ivoire
EF EPI score: 409
107 Ecuador
EF EPI score: 467
80 Egypt
EF EPI score: 463
83 El Salvador
EF EPI score: 524
50

2023 2023 2023

2023 2023
2019 2023 2012
2011 2011 2011 2011

469 491 525 543 412 407 464 471 457 469 512 537

Top region: Bogotá D.C. (502) Top region: Heredia* (566) Top region: Pichincha (512) Top region: Alexandria* (485) Top region: La Libertad* (543)
Top city: Bucaramanga (521) Top city: Heredia (565) Top city: Abidjan (425) Top city: Quito (513) Top city: Alexandria (485) Top city: La Libertad (540)
Top age group: 26-30 (average score 498) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 559) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 480) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 471) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 533)
* not identical to city * not identical to city * not identical to city

Croatia Cuba Czech Republic Ethiopia Finland France

EF EPI score: 603
11 EF EPI score: 531
43 EF EPI score: 565
26 EF EPI score: 490
69 EF EPI score: 597
14 EF EPI score: 531
43
2023
2023
2023 2023 2023
2018 2011 2023
2018 2017 2011
2011

600 606 516 546 541 595 500 480 574 621 532 530

Top region: La Habana* (543) Top region: South Moravian (605) Top region: Addis Ababa (515) Top region: Keski-Suomi (606) Top region: Île-de-France (553)
Top city: Zagreb (612) Top city: Havana (543) Top cities: Plzeň & Prague (589) Top city: Addis Ababa (515) Top city: Helsinki (617) Top city: Grenoble (590)
Top age group: 31-40 (average score 632) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 549) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 602) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 514) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 638) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 553)
* not identical to city

Denmark Dominican Republic Georgia Germany Ghana

Democratic Republic
of the Congo 113 EF EPI score: 615
4 EF EPI score: 512
55 EF EPI score: 541
32 EF EPI score: 604
10 EF EPI score: 537 34
EF EPI score: 385

2023 2023
2023
2011 2023 2014 2023 2021
2023 2018 2011
2021

600 631 507 517 534 553 594 615 537 537

Top region: Midtjylland (635) Top region: Ozama (529) Top region: Bavaria (627) Top region: Greater Accra (550)
Top city: Copenhagen (639) Top city: Santo Domingo (528) Top city: Tblisi (551) Top city: Karlsruhe (662) Top city: Accra (552)
Top city: Kinshasa (421) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 645) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 529) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 548) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 637) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 545)

30 www.ef.com/epi 31
Proficiency Detail
For full details, please visit: www.ef.com/epi

Greece Guatemala Haiti Iraq Israel Italy

EF EPI score: 602
12 EF EPI score: 515 53 EF EPI score: 421
98 EF EPI score: 410
106 EF EPI score: 514 54 EF EPI score: 535
35

2023 2023 2023 2023 2023

2023
2021 2022
2017 2011 2013 2011

609 596 508 522 416 426 394 423 498 531 529 542

Top region: Sacatepéquez (544) Top region: South (429) Top region: Sulaimaniyah* (467) Top region: Haifa* (544) Top region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia (583)
Top city: Athens (611) Top city: Guatemala City (521) Top city: Port-au-Prince (427) Top city: Sulaimaniyah (467) Top city: Haifa (547) Top city: Padua (617)
Top age group: 31-40 (average score 628) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 526) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 419) Top age group: 41+ (average score 564) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 567)
* not identical to city * not identical to city

Honduras Hong Kong (China) Hungary Japan Jordan Kazakhstan

EF EPI score: 544
31 EF EPI score: 558
29 EF EPI score: 588
17 EF EPI score: 457
87 EF EPI score: 431
96 EF EPI score: 415
104
2023 2023
2023 2011
2013 2018
2023 2023
2011 2023
2011
2018

534 554 555 559 579 597 453 461 424 439 387 443

Top regions: Cortés & Francisco Morazán (550) Top region: Hong Kong Island (567) Top region: Central (589) Top region: Kanto (483) Top region: Central region (448) Top region: Pavlodar (476)
Top city: San Pedro Sula (554) Top city: Pécs (604) Top city: Tokyo (503) Top city: Amman (470) Top city: Nur-Sultan (485)
Top age group: 21-25 (average score 555) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 570) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 619) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 488) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 456) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 443)

India Indonesia Iran

EF EPI score: 504
60 EF EPI score: 473
79 EF EPI score: 505
58 Kenya
EF EPI score: 584
19 Kuwait
EF EPI score: 461
85 Kyrgyzstan
EF EPI score: 450
90

2023
2023 2023 2023 2023
2023 2019
2012 2012
2011 2019
2011

474 534 463 483 494 513 587 583 470 456 434 467

Top regions: Himachal Pradesh & Rajasthan (573) Top region: Java (498) Top region: Region 1 (515) Top region: Coast (606)
Top city: Jaipur (594) Top city: Jakarta (531) Top city: Tehran (521) Top city: Mombasa (603) Top city: Kuwait City (446) Top city: Bishkek (484)
Top age group: 26-30 (average score 536) Top age groups: 21-25 & 26-30 (average score 490) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 525) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 589)

32 www.ef.com/epi 33
Proficiency Detail
For full details, please visit: www.ef.com/epi

Lebanon Libya Lithuania Morocco Myanmar Nepal

EF EPI score: 496
65 EF EPI score: 392 110 EF EPI score: 576
21 EF EPI score: 478
76 EF EPI score: 450 90 EF EPI score: 507
57

2021 2012 2023 2023 2023 2023

2023 2012
2023 2018 2019
2015

496 496 395 390 557 596 471 485 442 460 511 504

Top region: Beirut (545) Top region: Tripolitania (411) Top region: Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (490) Top region: Yangon* (468)
Top city: Beirut (545) Top city: Benghazi (428) Top city: Vilnius (610) Top city: Rabat (506) Top city: Yangon (469) Top city: Kathmandu (527)
Top age group: 31-40 (average score 506) Top age group: 18-20 (average score 416) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 502) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 466)
* not identical to city

Luxembourg
EF EPI score: 575
22 Madagascar
EF EPI score: 474
78 Malaysia
EF EPI score: 568
25 Netherlands
EF EPI score: 647
1 Nicaragua
EF EPI score: 503
62 Nigeria
EF EPI score: 562
27

2023
2015 2023 2023 2023 2023
2021 2011
2023 2017
2011 2018

490 467 561 576 638 666 496 515 576 556

Top region: Perak (587) Top region: Limburg (674) Top region: Managua* (511) Top regions: North Central & South West (573)
Top city: Kuantan (603) Top city: Breda (671) Top city: Managua (511) Top city: Abuja (582)
Top age group: 26-30 (average score 582) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 665) Top age groups: 26-30 & 31-40 (average score 521) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 567)
* not identical to city

Mexico Moldova Mongolia Norway Oman Pakistan

EF EPI score: 451
89 EF EPI score: 535
35 EF EPI score: 482
73 EF EPI score: 614
5 EF EPI score: 418
100 EF EPI score: 497
64

2023
2011 2023 2015 2023
2021 2011 2023 2015
2023 2023
2015

447 455 540 531 481 483 592 637 426 412 497 497

Top region: Jalisco (538) Top region: Nord-Norge (618) Top region: Punjab (502)
Top city: Guadalajara (547) Top city: Chișinău (573) Top city: Ulaanbaatar (500) Top city: Oslo (629) Top city: Muscat (436) Top city: Islamabad (538)
Top age group: 26-30 (average score 475) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 643) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 500)

34 www.ef.com/epi 35
Proficiency Detail
For full details, please visit: www.ef.com/epi

Panama
EF EPI score: 486
71 Paraguay
EF EPI score: 530
45 Peru
EF EPI score: 521
51 Rwanda
EF EPI score: 405
109 Saudi Arabia
EF EPI score: 408 108
Serbia
EF EPI score: 569
24
2023
2023
2023 2020 2023 2023
2019 2011 2023 2016
2011
2011

469 504 519 544 512 527 399 408 431 386 583 556

Top region: Región Occidental (492) Top region: Lima Province (535) Top region: Eastern (436) Top region: Eastern Province (433) Top region: Vojvodina (596)
Top city: San José de David (498) Top city: Asunción (549) Top city: Lima (536) Top city: Kigali (409) Top city: Mecca (442) Top city: Belgrade (594)
Top age group: 26-30 (average score 512) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 554) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 536) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 411) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 596)

Philippines
EF EPI score: 578
20 Poland
EF EPI score: 598
13 Portugal
EF EPI score: 607
8 Singapore
EF EPI score: 631
2 Slovakia
EF EPI score: 587
18 Somalia
EF EPI score: 411
105

2023 2023 2023

2023
2016 2023 2021 2023
2011 2012
2011 2011

577 580 582 615 594 620 623 639 576 598 407 420

Top region: Cordillera Administrative Region (616) Top region: Podlaskie (620) Top region: Coimbra* (629) Top region: Košice* (609)
Top city: Baguio (618) Top city: Poznań (644) Top city: Coimbra (636) Top city: Košice (611) Top city: Mogadishu (442)
Top age group: 26-30 (average score 604) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 624) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 643) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 649) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 625)
* not identical to city * not identical to city

South Korea
Qatar
EF EPI score: 482
73 Romania
EF EPI score: 596
15 Russia
EF EPI score: 532
41 South Africa
EF EPI score: 605
9 EF EPI score: 525
49 Spain
EF EPI score: 535
35

2023 2023
2023 2011 2023
2023 2017 2023
2014
2011 2011
2012

497 468 597 596 532 532 608 599 532 519 528 542

Top region: North West (608) Top region: Novosibirsk Oblast (547) Top region: Western Cape (616) Top region: Gyonggi (507) Top region: Asturias (565)
Top city: Doha (484) Top city: Bucharest (602) Top city: Chelyabinsk (559) Top city: Port Elizabeth (622) Top city: Seoul (559) Top city: Vigo (579)
Top age group: 31-40 (average score 612) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 549) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 608) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 560) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 563)

36 www.ef.com/epi 37
Proficiency Detail
For full details, please visit: www.ef.com/epi

Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Turkey Uganda Ukraine

EF EPI score: 491
67 EF EPI score: 430
97 EF EPI score: 609
6 EF EPI score: 493
66 EF EPI score: 529
47 EF EPI score: 530
45

2023 2023
2023 2019 2023
2023
2011 2023 2022
2013 2013
2011

486 500 428 433 589 630 484 502 532 526 530 531

Top region: South Sweden (624) Top regions: Aegean & Marmara (497) Top region: Ternopilska Oblast (548)
Top city: Colombo (528) Top city: Khartoum (440) Top city: Göteborg (653) Top city: Antalya (513) Top city: Kampala (520) Top city: Lutsk (548)
Top age group: 21-25 (average score 443) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 638) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 501) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 548)

Switzerland
EF EPI score: 553
30 Syria
Tajikistan
EF EPI score: 467
388
112
80 Tajikistan
EF EPI score: 388
112 United Arab
Emirates 71 Uruguay
EF EPI score: 533
39 Uzbekistan
EF EPI score: 442
93
EF EPI score: 486

2023 2023
2023 2017 2023
2020 2023 2020 2023
2023 2012
2011 2018
2012

547 559 458

359 476
419 359 419 489 483 528 538 435 458

Top region: Basel-Stadt (638) Top region: Latakia Governorate (493)

Sughd (407) Top region: Sughd (407) Top region: Dubai* (510) Top region: Fergana* (484)
Top city: Basel (644) Top city: Latakia
Khujand(493)
(435) Top city: Khujand (435) Top city: Dubai (510) Top city: Montevideo (549) Top city: Fergana (489)
Top age group: 31-40 (average score 593) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 489) Top age group: 18-20 (average score 495) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 546) Top age group: 31-40 (average score 456)
* not identical to city * not identical to city

Tanzania
EF EPI score: 491
67 Thailand
EF EPI score: 416
101 Tunisia
EF EPI score: 502
63 Venezuela
EF EPI score: 508
56 Vietnam
EF EPI score: 505
58 Yemen
EF EPI score: 392
110

2023 2023
2023 2023 2023
2021
2011 2023 2011 2021
2016
2011

410 426 491 519 500 523 498 513 371 403

Top region: Central (433) Top region: North East (515) Top region: Central (514) Top region: Red River Delta (530)
Top city: Chiang Mai (464) Top city: Tunis (533) Top city: Maracaibo (524) Top city: Hà Nôi (538) Top city: Ibb (412)
Top city: Dar Es Salaam (515) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 437) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 522) Top age group: 21-25 (average score 531) Top age group: 26-30 (average score 511) Top age group: 18-20 (average score 399)

38 www.ef.com/epi 39
Conclusions

After a decade of surging demand and produce can be corrected by AI, then those Teachers may not be integrated into a team The influence of tests Leveraging linguistic diversity For individuals, the advantages of speaking
unprecedented investment, worldwide corrections can be explained again and again like office workers. Successful professional In many countries, graduation and university To reach their full potential, all children English are extensive. Why else would
English proficiency levels haven’t in different ways with no irritation or fatigue. development projects pay particular entrance exams help concentrate class need to learn to read and write in their parents invest so much in bilingual
changed—a reminder of both the challenge Immersive interaction with generative AI can attention to creating learner cohorts with time on the education system’s desired first language. Where English is a common preschools and English after-school
of language acquisition and the lasting feel a lot like a real-life language exchange, if strong ties who can reinforce each outcomes. If one of those goals is to teach medium of instruction but rarely spoken at programs, summer immersion abroad
potential for progress; but this superficial real life were peopled by chatty, helpful folks other’s motivation. young people how to communicate in home, a careful approach to its introduction and private English tutors? And why would
stability hides variation at the regional and with nowhere else to be. AI course managers English, important exams must test those is called for, with the aim of developing full English courses be the top choice in
national level, as well as gains and losses can prompt learners to revise tasks at the In addition to English skills, teachers who skills. Major assessments which test mainly multilingualism among pupils rather than countries with nationalized adult
in specific age and gender groups. To the right time for optimal retention and spot weren’t trained in communicative methods translation, vocabulary or grammar will devaluing home languages in the face of education schemes?
extent that these changes are consequences people who are losing motivation. need professional development and inevitably push teachers to use most of their English. The same applies to any situation
of policy, our data can help validate or mentoring in that area. When language class time on those subjects. Assessments where children speak a different language English opens doors. Everyone deserves a
interrogate those decisions. However, research on educational outcomes classes are large, students rarely get that leave English out entirely send a clear at home than the one used in school. fair chance at learning it.
indicates that student-teacher bonds are enough time to practice speaking English. message about its importance relative to Educational outcomes are better when
Teaching English to those who among the most highly predictive measures Techniques to address that challenge other academic subjects. young children learn to read and write in
need it now… of achievement. Organizations that develop deserve particular attention. Those who their mother tongue, and a multilingual
Contrary to popular belief, adults can learn a culture of language learning will reap have been teaching for years using other For students wanting to study in an workforce literate in all its languages is more
languages to a high level; however, the the benefits of that motivating social methods may need extra encouragement to English-language university, earning the versatile than a monolingual one.
amount of training and practice required environment. For those learning English on change their habits. required score on a standardized English
are usually underestimated. In an optimal their own, the learning platform itself has to test like TOEFL is a major source of stress Although English has historic ties to a
learning environment, it takes an adult create that momentum. Most people need In English classes at schools and universities, and expense. On top of the test fees, few countries, the vast majority of English
about 150 hours of instruction and practice to feel that others care about their success technology of course has a role as well. One students may need to travel to a test center, speakers today are not from those places.
to improve by one CEFR level. That means in order to succeed, which is why the arrival of the most interesting possibilities is to sometimes in another country, sometimes There is no international body that sets
a beginner with two hours of English of MOOCs hasn’t turned us all into rocket teach students how to use English-language accompanied by a parent. Although these norms for the English language, and indeed
instruction a week would need three years scientists. The availability of information media and participatory social spaces to English tests are useful to admissions that is part of its appeal as a global lingua
to reach a B1 level. Adult language training isn’t enough. improve their skills autonomously. Many teams, filtering large numbers of potential franca—because it belongs to no one, it
programs rarely last that long. Approaching English teachers already use media in class international applicants automatically, can belong to everyone. But, like other
adult training with realistic expectations …and to those who will need it later with the aim of giving lessons a modern they may want to reconsider their blanket languages such as French and Russian,
helps organizations and individuals align Teaching English well in schools and feel. Helping students master the tools to use for the same reason many universities English does get caught up in politics
investment with goals. universities is the most effective way to turn their entertainment experiences into are moving away from standardized sometimes, from knee-jerk linguistic
build adult proficiency over time. Ambitious educational ones would be a powerful shift national testing like the SAT. These tests protectionism to broad nationalistic
Adult English instruction can take several curriculum reform starts with teacher in perspective, given how many young are prohibitively expensive and, like all agendas. This is unfortunate.
forms, but the most effective large-scale training. Teachers, like other adults, can people interact with English-language media standardized tests, cannot hope to measure
solutions give the learner an on-demand learn English to a high level, but they need every day. In the same way, generative AI subtle variations in student profiles.
communication-based experience at a time, motivation, training, and practice. can be used as a personal language coach
reasonable price by blending guided The same language learning solutions used and copy editor if students are taught how
self-study and with teacher-led instruction. in companies can be used by teachers to use it for those purposes.
AI has the potential to supercharge such to strengthen their English skills, but with
platforms. Learners can work together the same caveat: social cues about the
on authentic documents, and what they importance of the project will inevitably
influence its success.

40 www.ef.com/epi 41
Recommendations

Most organizations and individuals are convinced of the advantages

of English proficiency. However, not everyone knows how to get there.
Here are our recommendations:

For companies For governments and education • Assess the English skills of all public For teachers, schools, and universities For individuals
authorities servants and provide training as
• Set realistic goals that take into necessary, not only for their current • Teach English using a communication- • Play the long game: plan for the
account the hours needed to close • Consider the hours available in jobs, but also for their careers. based methodology. hundreds of hours it takes to move
the gap between current and target the curriculum and the proficiency from one proficiency level to the next.
proficiency levels for each individual. level achievable for each major • Provide English language instruction • Reward successful acts of communication
educational milestone. in job centers and unemployment rather than focusing on mistakes. • Be aware of growing competence
• Build a culture of internationalism and reduction programs. at different stages and celebrate
mobility, including in branch offices. • Use large-scale assessment of both • Engage students outside the classroom your successes.
teachers and students to set benchmarks • Give adults access to lifelong learning with English-language media and
• Use platforms that facilitate then track progress over time. programs and include English training encourage them to share their favorites. • Study English every day, even if only
frequent contact between teams in the provision. for a few minutes.
in different countries. • Adjust entrance and exit exams so • Give students frequent opportunities
that they evaluate communicative • Ensure that government-funded to speak English through activities • Study in sessions of maximum 1 hour and
• Build diverse, multinational teams in English skills. adult language courses are long like English clubs, theme days, take a break when you feel your attention
all functions, including the back office. enough and intensive enough for classroom twinning, school trips, waning.
• Include English in the training learners to meet their goals. and guest speakers.
• Test the entire workforce to identify regimens for all new teachers. • Set specific, achievable goals and
strategic weaknesses in English. • Develop standardized micro- • Provide a forum for teachers to share write them down.
• Re-train English teachers in credentials that certify course best practices and get advice about
• Train employees using a role-specific communicative teaching methods teaching English effectively. • Memorize vocabulary relevant to
quality and improve skill portability.
English curriculum. if they were initially trained using your job or field of study and begin
other methods. • Allow TV shows and movies to be • Give teachers of all subjects a using it immediately.
• Leverage technology to bring straightforward path to improve
shown in their original language,
flexible learning at scale. • Ensure that English is taught only by their English and time in their schedule • Practice speaking, even if it’s just
with subtitles rather than dubbing.
people who speak the language well to do so. reading a book aloud.
• Set minimum standards of English
enough to instruct in it.
proficiency for different roles, and test • Include English language requirements • Engage with content you enjoy in
that those standards are being met. • Set a minimum level required to for all university majors. English when you need a break
teach English, test instructors regularly,
• Reward employees who invest time • Allow subject classes to be taught in • Watch TV, read, or listen to the
and train those who miss the mark.
in improving their English. English if both the students and the radio in English.
• Teach children to read and write in professor meet the requisite English level.
• Encourage executives and managers • When traveling to an English-speaking
their own native language.
to lead by example and share their • Create a remedial English program to country, speak as much as possible.
experiences as English learners. help those who have fallen behind.
• Use social media in English and set
• Prioritize access to English learning for computers and apps to English to get
all employees. more built-in exposure to the language.

• Consider online options for regular

conversation practice and access to a
teacher.

42 www.ef.com/epi 43
APPENDIX A

About the Index

Methodology Test Takers Sampling Biases Score Calculation CEFR EF EPI Score EF EPI Band PISA will include an English as a foreign
This edition of the EF EPI is based Although the sample of test takers for The test-taking population represented National EF EPI scores are calculated C2 700-800 Very high language assessment for the first time in
on test data from more than 2,200,000 the EF EPI is biased toward respondents in this Index is self-selected and not using a three year rolling average. First, 2025 which will provide an interesting
test takers around the world who took the who are interested in pursuing language guaranteed to be representative. Only those we calculate the average EF SET score C1 600-699 Very high comparison data set for the EF EPI as it
EF Standard English Test (EF SET) in 2022. study and younger adults, the sample is who want to learn English or are curious achieved by all test takers residing in a B2 550-599 High benchmarks skill levels among 15-year-olds.
roughly balanced between male and female about their English skills will participate in country during the previous calendar year.
The EF Standard English Test (EF SET) 500-549 Moderate Another source of data about English
respondents and represents adult language one of these tests. This could skew scores Then, we average that score with the
The EF SET is an online, adaptive English learners from a broad range of ages. lower or higher than those of the general published EF EPI score for Y-1 and Y-2. This B1 450-499 Low proficiency comes from national education
test of reading and listening skills. It is population. stabilizes the index and reduces turbulence systems. Many schools test the English skills
a standardized, objectively scored test • Female respondents comprised 42% of 400-449 Very low of every high school student or university
from sampling variation year over year. We
designed to classify test takers’ language the overall sample, male respondents The EF SET is free and online, so anyone calculate scores for industries, job functions A2 300-399 Very low applicant using a standardized national
abilities into one of the six levels established 35% and respondents who did not with an Internet connection can participate. and seniority levels in the same way. assessment. The results may or may not be
A1 200-299 Very low
by the Common European Framework provide gender information 23%. Almost all of our test takers are working made public, but educators and government
of Reference (CEFR). The EF SET is adults or young adults finishing their Once national EF EPI scores are calculated, Pre-A1 1-199 Very low officials use the data to assess the efficacy
available to any Internet user for free. For • The median age of respondents who studies. People without Internet access we use them to calculate rollup scores for of education reform and pinpoint areas for
more information about the research and provided age information was 26, with would be automatically excluded. The world regions (Europe, Asia, etc.) as well as Other Data Sources improvement. Unfortunately, those national
development of the EF SET, visit 88% of those respondents under the age EF SET site is fully adaptive and 37% of global scores. These scores are population The EF EPI does not aim to compete with assessments are not comparable to
www.efset.org/about/. of 35, and 99% under the age of 60. 29% test takers complete the exam from a weighted by country, so for example, India's or contradict national test results, language each other, and they are not administered
of respondents did not provide their birth mobile device. In parts of the world where score carries a much heavier weight than polling data, or any other data set. Instead, to adults, so while they give a good
EF EPI 2023 scores have been found to year. Internet usage is low, we would expect the Thailand's in the calculation of Asia's score. these data sets complement each other. indication of English proficiency among
correlate strongly with TOEFL iBT 2021 impact of an online format to be strong. This applies to all scores calculated at the Some are granular but limited in scope to high school students in one part of the
scores (r=0.77) and IELTS Academic Test • The median age of male respondents was
This sampling bias would tend to pull supranational level (world and region scores a single age group, country, region, or test world, they cannot be used for international
2022 scores (r=0.59). These correlations 26, slightly higher than the median age of
scores upward by excluding poorer and along with their gender and age group taker profile. The EF EPI is broad, examining comparison, nor can they tell us much
show that, while these tests have different female respondents, which was 25.
less educated people, and those living in breakdowns). working-aged adults around the world using about adult English proficiency levels.
designs and test taker profiles, they reveal areas with little or no Internet connectivity. a common assessment method. There is
Only cities, regions, and countries with a
similar trends in national English proficiency. Nevertheless, open access online tests Scores for subgroups within a country are no other data set of comparable size and EF Education First
minimum of 400 test takers were included
have proven effective in gathering very not population weighted. We calculate these scope, and, despite its limitations, we, EF Education First (www.ef.com) is an
in the Index, but in most cases the number
large amounts of data about a range of directly based on the previous calendar along with many policymakers, scholars, international education company that
of test takers was far greater.
indicators, and we believe they provide year's EF SET data then calibrate them and analysts, believe it to be a valuable focuses on language, academics, cultural
valuable information about global English against the national score for coherence. reference point in the global conversation exchange, and educational travel. Founded
proficiency levels. about English language education. in 1965, EF’s mission is “opening the world
Based on score thresholds, we assign through education.” Millions of students,
countries, regions, and cities to proficiency The EF EPI is created through a different companies and organizations have
bands. This allows recognition of clusters process from the one used by public participated in an EF program.
with similar English skill levels and opinion research organizations such as The EF English Proficiency Index is
comparisons within and between regions. Euromonitor and Gallup, or by the OECD published by Signum International AG.
in skills surveys such as PISA and PIAAC.
Those studies select survey participants
using age, gender, level of education,
income, and other factors. Their survey
panels tend to be small, with at most a few
thousand participants. Because they have
been composed using complex sampling
methods, they are considered representative
of the entire population.

44 www.ef.com/epi 45
APPENDIX B APPENDIX C

EF EPI CEFR Levels

Proficiency Bands and Can-Do Statements

About EF EPI Proficiency Bands Proficiency Sample Tasks Proficient User

The EF English Proficiency Index C2 • Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
Very High Use nuanced and appropriate language
places the surveyed countries and
Netherlands in social situations
territories into five proficiency bands, • Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources,
Portugal Read advanced texts with ease
from Very High to Very Low. The bands reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.
Singapore Negotiate a contract with a native
make it easier to identify countries and
English speaker • Can express themself spontaneously, very fluently, and precisely, differentiating
regions with similar skill levels and to draw
finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
comparisons between and within regions.

In the chart on the right, we give examples C1 • Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts,
of tasks that an individual could accomplish and recognize implicit meaning.
at each proficiency band. The selection of High Make a presentation at work
tasks is not meant to be exhaustive, but it is Argentina Understand TV shows • Can express themself fluently and spontaneously without much
a useful reference for understanding how Kenya Read a newspaper obvious searching for expressions.
skills advance across the bands. Philippines
• Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic,
and professional purposes.
It is important to keep in mind that
a proficiency band merely indicates the skills • Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects,
of an average test taker. The EF EPI seeks showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors, and
to compare countries and territories, which Moderate Participate in meetings in one’s area
cohesive devices.
necessitates overlooking individual strengths Chile of expertise
and weaknesses. India Understand song lyrics Independent User
Honduras Write professional emails on
B2 • Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and
familiar subjects
abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization.

• Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular
interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
Low Navigate an English-speaking country
China as a tourist • Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain
Pakistan Engage in small talk with colleagues a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving the advantages and disadvantages of
Turkey Understand simple emails from colleagues various options.

B1 • Can understand the main points of clear standard input on

familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.

Very Low Introduce oneself simply • Can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in
Haiti (name, age, country of origin) an area where the language is spoken.
Saudi Arabia Understand simple signs
Thailand Give basic directions to a foreign visitor • Can produce simple connected text on topics that are
familiar or of personal interest.

• Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes, and ambitions

and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Basic User
A2 • Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions
related to most relevant areas (e.g. very basic personal and family
information, shopping, local geography, employment).

• Can communicate during routine tasks requiring a simple and

direct exchange of information on familiar matters.

• Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background,

immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.

A1 • Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very

basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.

• Can introduce themself and others and can ask and answer
questions about personal details such as where they live, people
they know, and things they have.

• Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks

slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Quoted From the Council of Europe
All countries and regions in the EF EPI fall into bands corresponding to levels A2-C1.

46 www.ef.com/epi 47
 EF EPI 2023 EF EPI 2022 EF EPI 2023 EF EPI 2022
APPENDIX D Score Change Score Change
Edition Edition Edition Edition
EF EPI Netherlands 647 661 -14 Nepal 507 494 13

Country and Singapore 631 642 -11 Iran 505 489 16

Region Rankings Austria

Denmark
616
615
628
625
-12
-10
Vietnam
Bangladesh
505
504
502
493
3
11
Norway 614 627 -13 India 504 516 -12

A look at changes Sweden 609 618 -9 Nicaragua 503 499 4

Belgium 608 620 -12 Tunisia 502 511 -9
in English skills over
Portugal 607 614 -7 Pakistan 497 488 9
the past year: South Africa 605 609 -4 Lebanon 496 513 -17
Germany 604 613 -9 Turkey 493 495 -2
Croatia 603 612 -9 Sri Lanka 491 487 4
Greece 602 598 4 Tanzania 491 496 -5
Poland 598 600 -2 Ethiopia 490 490 0
Finland 597 615 -18 Brazil 487 505 -18
Romania 596 595 1 Panama 486 482 4
Bulgaria 589 581 8 United Arab Emirates 486 476 10
Hungary 588 590 -2 Mongolia 482 485 -3
Slovakia 587 597 -10 Qatar 482 484 -2
Kenya 584 582 2 Colombia 480 477 3
Philippines 578 578 0 Morocco 478 478 0
Lithuania 576 589 -13 Algeria 475 476 -1
Luxembourg 575 596 -21 Madagascar 474 — NEW
Estonia 570 570 0 Indonesia 473 469 4
Serbia 569 567 2 Ecuador 467 466 1
Malaysia 568 574 -6 Syria 467 461 6
Czech Republic 565 575 -10 China 464 498 -34
Nigeria 562 564 -2 Azerbaijan 463 440 23
Argentina 560 562 -2 Egypt 463 454 9
Hong Kong (China) 558 561 -3 Kuwait 461 459 2
Switzerland 553 563 -10 Malawi 460 — NEW
Honduras 544 522 22 Japan 457 475 -18
Georgia 541 524 17 Afghanistan 456 450 6
Belarus 539 533 6 Mexico 451 447 4
Ghana 537 529 8 Kyrgyzstan 450 442 8
Italy 535 548 -13 Myanmar 450 437 13
Moldova 535 528 7 Palestine 445 — NEW
Spain 535 545 -10 Uzbekistan 442 446 -4
Costa Rica 534 536 -2 Cameroon 438 425 13
Albania 533 523 10 Senegal 438 — NEW
Uruguay 533 521 12 Jordan 431 443 -12
Bolivia 532 525 7 Sudan 430 426 4
Russia 532 530 2 Cambodia 421 434 -13
Cuba 531 535 -4 Haiti 421 421 0
France 531 541 -10 Oman 418 412 6
Paraguay 530 526 4 Angola 416 402 14
Ukraine 530 539 -9 Benin 416 — NEW
Uganda 529 512 17 Thailand 416 423 -7
Armenia 528 506 22 Kazakhstan 415 420 -5
South Korea 525 537 -12 Somalia 411 414 -3
El Salvador 524 519 5 Iraq 410 404 6
Peru 521 517 4 Côte d'Ivoire 409 403 6
Chile 518 524 -6 Saudi Arabia 408 406 2
Guatemala 515 505 10 Rwanda 405 392 13
Israel 514 483 31 Libya 392 390 2
Dominican Republic 512 514 -2 Yemen 392 370 22
Venezuela 508 492 16 Tajikistan 388 397 -9
Democratic Republic of the Congo 385 367 18

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