EF English Proficiency Index
The EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) attempts to rank countries by the equity of English language skills amongst those adults who took the EF test.[1] It is the product of EF Education First, an international education company, and draws its conclusions from data collected via English tests available for free over the internet.[2][3] The index is an online survey first published in 2011[4] based on test data from 1.7 million test takers.[5] The most recent edition was released in November 2021.[6][7]
Methodology[]
The EF EPI 2021 edition was calculated using test data from 2 million test takers in 2020. The test takers were self-selected. 112 countries and territories appear in this edition of the index. In order to be included, a country was required to have at least 400 test takers.[8]
Report[]
The report is composed of a country ranking table, several pages of analysis with graphs correlating other economic and social factors with English proficiency, and analysis of each region or continent. The 2021 report includes English proficiency levels by gender, age group, and region, within countries, and some English proficiency scores by city. The website displays portions of the report and has analysis of English skills in many countries and territories.[8]
Primary conclusions[]
- Exports per capita, Gross National Income per capita and innovation all correlate positively with English proficiency.[9]
- English proficiency levels are evolving at different rates in different countries, including a few countries with declining English skills.[10]
- Europe has the highest proficiency in English, while the Middle East averages the lowest.[11]
2021 rankings[]
Below are the latest country scores, proficiency bands, and rankings as published in 2021.[12]
2021 Rank | Country | 2021 Score | 2021 Proficiency Band |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Netherlands | 663 | Very High Proficiency |
2 | Austria | 641 | Very High Proficiency |
3 | Denmark | 636 | Very High Proficiency |
4 | Singapore | 635 | Very High Proficiency |
5 | Norway | 632 | Very High Proficiency |
6 | Belgium | 629 | Very High Proficiency |
7 | Portugal | 625 | Very High Proficiency |
8 | Sweden | 623 | Very High Proficiency |
9 | Finland | 618 | Very High Proficiency |
10 | Croatia | 617 | Very High Proficiency |
11 | Germany | 616 | Very High Proficiency |
12 | South Africa | 606 | Very High Proficiency |
13 | Luxembourg | 604 | Very High Proficiency |
14 | Serbia | 599 | High Proficiency |
15 | Romania | 598 | High Proficiency |
16 | Poland | 597 | High Proficiency |
17 | Hungary | 593 | High Proficiency |
18 | Philippines | 592 | High Proficiency |
19 | Greece | 591 | High Proficiency |
20 | Slovakia | 590 | High Proficiency |
21 | Kenya | 587 | High Proficiency |
22 | Estonia | 581 | High Proficiency |
23 | Bulgaria | 580 | High Proficiency |
24 | Lithuania | 579 | High Proficiency |
25 | Switzerland | 575 | High Proficiency |
26 | Latvia | 569 | High Proficiency |
27 | Czech Republic | 563 | High Proficiency |
28 | Malaysia | 562 | High Proficiency |
29 | Nigeria | 560 | High Proficiency |
30 | Argentina | 556 | High Proficiency |
31 | France | 551 | High Proficiency |
32 | Hong Kong | 545 | Moderate Proficiency |
33 | Spain | 540 | Moderate Proficiency |
34 | Lebanon | 536 | Moderate Proficiency |
35 | Italy | 535 | Moderate Proficiency |
36 | Moldova | 532 | Moderate Proficiency |
37 | South Korea | 529 | Moderate Proficiency |
38 | Belarus | 528 | Moderate Proficiency |
39 | Albania | 527 | Moderate Proficiency |
40 | Ukraine | 525 | Moderate Proficiency |
41 | Bolivia | 524 | Moderate Proficiency |
42 | Ghana | 523 | Moderate Proficiency |
43 | Cuba | 521 | Moderate Proficiency |
44 | Costa Rica | 520 | Moderate Proficiency |
44 | Dominican Republic | 520 | Moderate Proficiency |
44 | Paraguay | 520 | Moderate Proficiency |
47 | Chile | 516 | Moderate Proficiency |
48 | India | 515 | Moderate Proficiency |
49 | Mainland China | 513 | Moderate Proficiency |
50 | Georgia | 512 | Moderate Proficiency |
51 | Russia | 511 | Moderate Proficiency |
52 | Tunisia | 510 | Moderate Proficiency |
53 | Uruguay | 509 | Moderate Proficiency |
54 | El Salvador | 508 | Moderate Proficiency |
55 | Honduras | 506 | Moderate Proficiency |
56 | Peru | 505 | Moderate Proficiency |
57 | Macau | 504 | Moderate Proficiency |
58 | Iran | 501 | Moderate Proficiency |
59 | Armenia | 499 | Low Proficiency |
60 | Brazil | 497 | Low Proficiency |
61 | Guatemala | 493 | Low Proficiency |
62 | Nepal | 492 | Low Proficiency |
63 | Ethiopia | 491 | Low Proficiency |
63 | Pakistan | 491 | Low Proficiency |
65 | Bangladesh | 490 | Low Proficiency |
66 | Vietnam | 486 | Low Proficiency |
67 | Tanzania | 485 | Low Proficiency |
68 | Mozambique | 482 | Low Proficiency |
69 | United Arab Emirates | 480 | Low Proficiency |
70 | Turkey | 478 | Low Proficiency |
71 | Morocco | 477 | Low Proficiency |
72 | Bahrain | 476 | Low Proficiency |
73 | Panama | 475 | Low Proficiency |
73 | Venezuela | 475 | Low Proficiency |
75 | Algeria | 474 | Low Proficiency |
76 | Nicaragua | 470 | Low Proficiency |
77 | Madagascar | 469 | Low Proficiency |
78 | Japan | 468 | Low Proficiency |
79 | Qatar | 467 | Low Proficiency |
80 | Indonesia | 466 | Low Proficiency |
81 | Colombia | 465 | Low Proficiency |
82 | Sri Lanka | 464 | Low Proficiency |
83 | Mongolia | 461 | Low Proficiency |
84 | Kuwait | 458 | Low Proficiency |
85 | Egypt | 455 | Low Proficiency |
86 | Azerbaijan | 451 | Low Proficiency |
87 | Afghanistan | 448 | Very Low Proficiency |
88 | Uzbekistan | 447 | Very Low Proficiency |
89 | Syria | 445 | Very Low Proficiency |
90 | Ecuador | 440 | Very Low Proficiency |
90 | Jordan | 440 | Very Low Proficiency |
92 | Mexico | 436 | Very Low Proficiency |
93 | Myanmar | 429 | Very Low Proficiency |
94 | Angola | 428 | Very Low Proficiency |
94 | Cameroon | 428 | Very Low Proficiency |
96 | Kazakhstan | 426 | Very Low Proficiency |
97 | Cambodia | 423 | Very Low Proficiency |
98 | Sudan | 421 | Very Low Proficiency |
99 | Ivory Coast | 420 | Very Low Proficiency |
100 | Thailand | 419 | Very Low Proficiency |
101 | Kyrgyzstan | 418 | Very Low Proficiency |
102 | Oman | 417 | Very Low Proficiency |
103 | Tajikistan | 405 | Very Low Proficiency |
104 | Saudi Arabia | 404 | Very Low Proficiency |
105 | Haiti | 403 | Very Low Proficiency |
106 | Somalia | 401 | Very Low Proficiency |
107 | Iraq | 399 | Very Low Proficiency |
108 | Libya | 390 | Very Low Proficiency |
109 | Rwanda | 389 | Very Low Proficiency |
110 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 386 | Very Low Proficiency |
111 | South Sudan | 363 | Very Low Proficiency |
112 | Yemen | 360 | Very Low Proficiency |
2021 rankings cities[]
City | 2021 Score | 2021 Proficiency Band |
---|---|---|
Amsterdam | 682 | Very High Proficiency |
Copenhagen | 668 | Very High Proficiency |
Helsinki | 659 | Very High Proficiency |
Vienna | 658 | Very High Proficiency |
Stockholm | 646 | Very High Proficiency |
Porto | 643 | Very High Proficiency |
Johannesburg | 641 | Very High Proficiency |
Lisbon | 638 | Very High Proficiency |
Zagreb | 635 | Very High Proficiency |
Oslo | 633 | Very High Proficiency |
Budapest | 628 | Very High Proficiency |
Berlin | 622 | Very High Proficiency |
Hamburg | 622 | Very High Proficiency |
Warsaw | 621 | Very High Proficiency |
Athens | 616 | Very High Proficiency |
Bucharest | 612 | Very High Proficiency |
Belgrade | 604 | Very High Proficiency |
Nairobi | 601 | Very High Proficiency |
Brussels | 598 | High Proficiency |
Davao City | 597 | High Proficiency |
Kuala Lumpur | 596 | High Proficiency |
Manila | 595 | High Proficiency |
Paris | 595 | High Proficiency |
Bratislava | 594 | High Proficiency |
Sofia | 591 | High Proficiency |
Prague | 590 | High Proficiency |
Chennai | 586 | High Proficiency |
Mumbai | 586 | High Proficiency |
Lyon | 580 | High Proficiency |
Bangalore | 579 | High Proficiency |
Lagos | 576 | High Proficiency |
Milan | 571 | High Proficiency |
Seoul | 571 | High Proficiency |
Barcelona | 569 | High Proficiency |
Madrid | 569 | High Proficiency |
Buenos Aires | 567 | High Proficiency |
Córdoba | 561 | High Proficiency |
San José | 553 | High Proficiency |
Rome | 552 | High Proficiency |
Santiago | 552 | High Proficiency |
Hanoi | 548 | Moderate Proficiency |
Hyderabad | 548 | Moderate Proficiency |
São Paulo | 546 | Moderate Proficiency |
Hong Kong | 545 | Moderate Proficiency |
Shanghai | 543 | Moderate Proficiency |
Minsk | 538 | Moderate Proficiency |
Saint Petersburg | 537 | Moderate Proficiency |
Moscow | 535 | Moderate Proficiency |
Santo Domingo | 535 | Moderate Proficiency |
Accra | 534 | Moderate Proficiency |
Lima | 532 | Moderate Proficiency |
Kyiv | 531 | Moderate Proficiency |
Guadalajara | 528 | Moderate Proficiency |
Havana | 534 | Moderate Proficiency |
Delhi | 524 | Moderate Proficiency |
Beijing | 523 | Moderate Proficiency |
Tbilisi | 523 | Moderate Proficiency |
Dar Es Salaam | 522 | Moderate Proficiency |
Surabaya | 522 | Moderate Proficiency |
Addis Ababa | 521 | Moderate Proficiency |
Taipei | 521 | Moderate Proficiency |
Tirana | 520 | Moderate Proficiency |
Brasília | 517 | Moderate Proficiency |
Tokyo | 516 | Moderate Proficiency |
Montevideo | 515 | Moderate Proficiency |
Shenzen | 515 | Moderate Proficiency |
Tunis | 515 | Moderate Proficiency |
Tehran | 514 | Moderate Proficiency |
Rio de Janeiro | 512 | Moderate Proficiency |
Bandung | 512 | Moderate Proficiency |
Dhaka | 512 | Moderate Proficiency |
Monterrey | 512 | Moderate Proficiency |
Dubai | 511 | Moderate Proficiency |
Karachi | 511 | Moderate Proficiency |
Kazan | 511 | Moderate Proficiency |
San Salvador | 510 | Moderate Proficiency |
Jakarta | 506 | Moderate Proficiency |
Chengdu | 505 | Moderate Proficiency |
Panama City | 505 | Moderate Proficiency |
Caracas | 504 | Moderate Proficiency |
Macau | 504 | Moderate Proficiency |
Guangzhou | 498 | Low Proficiency |
Wuhan | 498 | Low Proficiency |
Guatemala City | 497 | Low Proficiency |
Maputo | 493 | Low Proficiency |
Algiers | 492 | Low Proficiency |
Ankara | 489 | Low Proficiency |
Medellín | 489 | Low Proficiency |
Bogotá | 486 | Low Proficiency |
Casablanca | 482 | Low Proficiency |
Istanbul | 482 | Low Proficiency |
Cairo | 480 | Low Proficiency |
Ho Chi Minh City | 480 | Low Proficiency |
Quito | 480 | Low Proficiency |
Managua | 475 | Low Proficiency |
Mexico City | 475 | Low Proficiency |
Doha | 472 | Low Proficiency |
Bangkok | 471 | Low Proficiency |
Nur-Sultan | 470 | Low Proficiency |
Almaty | 466 | Low Proficiency |
Tijuana | 464 | Low Proficiency |
Amman | 460 | Low Proficiency |
Baku | 459 | Low Proficiency |
Cali | 458 | Low Proficiency |
Ulaanbaatar | 454 | Low Proficiency |
Damascus | 451 | Low Proficiency |
Tashkent | 446 | Very Low Proficiency |
Khartoum | 441 | Very Low Proficiency |
Yangon | 441 | Very Low Proficiency |
Kabul | 440 | Very Low Proficiency |
Bishkek | 437 | Very Low Proficiency |
Luanda | 436 | Very Low Proficiency |
Riyadh | 432 | Very Low Proficiency |
Baghdad | 431 | Very Low Proficiency |
Jeddah | 424 | Very Low Proficiency |
Mogadishu | 423 | Very Low Proficiency |
Abidjan | 421 | Very Low Proficiency |
Tripoli | 421 | Very Low Proficiency |
Yaoundé | 420 | Very Low Proficiency |
Dushanbe | 412 | Very Low Proficiency |
Kigali | 405 | Very Low Proficiency |
Kinshasa | 403 | Very Low Proficiency |
Juba | 375 | Very Low Proficiency |
Similar reports[]
The European Commission performed a language survey, SurveyLang, which tested a representative sample of 15-year-old European students on their foreign language skills. The report and data sets were released for 13 European countries in June 2012.[13]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ English: Who speaks English?. The Economist. Retrieved on 2011-05-29.
- ^ Study Offers Snapshot of Global English-Language-Learner Trends. Education Week. Retrieved on 2017-01-17.
- ^ The EF SET powers the EF EPI. EF SET. Retrieved on 2017-10-05.
- ^ The EF EPI. ef.com. Retrieved on 2017-10-05.
- ^ Low English Levels Can Hurt Countries' Progress. New York Times. Retrieved on 2017-01-17.
- ^ https://www.ef.com/assetscdn/WIBIwq6RdJvcD9bc8RMd/legacy/__/~/media/centralefcom/epi/downloads/full-reports/v10/ef-epi-2020-english.pdf
- ^ Women and managers are better at speaking English, study on proficiency finds. Business Insider. Retrieved on 2018-11-09
- ^ a b EF English Proficiency Index – Comparing English skills between countries – EF EPI. Ef.com. Retrieved on 2018-11-09.
- ^ Minh Tran: Countries with High English Proficiency Are More Innovative. Harvard Business Review. "Minh Tran is Director of Research and Partnerships for EF Education First and a member of the team that launched the EF Standard English Test." Retrieved on 2017-01-17.
- ^ How Well Does Your Country Speak English?. Voice of America. Retrieved on 2017-1-17.
- ^ Which countries are best at English as a second language?. World Economic Forum. Retrieved on 2017-1-17.
- ^ "EF EPI 2021 - EF English Proficiency Index". 2021.
- ^ SurveyLang project. European Commission. Retrieved on 2012-09-20.
External links[]
- International rankings
- English language
- English-language education
- EF Education First