ZURICH, Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EF Education First (EF), a global provider of culturally immersive education, released the 2024 edition of its EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) – the largest international survey of English skills by countries, capital cities and regions, published annually since 2011.
For the sixth consecutive year, the Netherlands retained the top spot, Norway came in second, followed by Singapore.
Overall, the 2024 index, calculated from the test results of 2.1 million non-native English speakers, aged 18+, in 116 countries and regions, reports an ongoing softening of worldwide English proficiency where men remain more proficient than women, and young professionals more proficient than students and adults over 40.
"The global landscape of English proficiency is constantly evolving," said EF EPI author Kate Bell. "While the Middle East and Africa have improved this year, on the whole, we see a slow but persistent decline in the level of English among adults elsewhere. This trend supports the impression that in 2024, the expectation in many countries is that everyone speaks English, regardless of the reality, leading to a loss of focus on improving English proficiency in both the education system and the private sector."
Key findings:
The EF EPI trend report is available for download.
EF Education First provides culturally immersive education through language, travel, cultural exchange, and academic programs in over 100 countries. Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF's mission is opening the world through education.
Media contact: Sonja Hildebrandt. Email: mediainquiry@ef.com