EF Education First (EF) has released the 2024 edition of its English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), revealing a global decline in English skills. For the sixth year running, the Netherlands topped the list, with Norway and Singapore following in second and third place. The report, which is based on test results from 2.1 million non-native English speakers aged 18 and above across 116 countries and regions, highlights a concerning trend of softening global English proficiency.
The EF EPI report, which has been published annually since 2011, shows a gradual but persistent decline in English proficiency worldwide. While some regions have seen improvement, notably in the Middle East and Africa, many countries report a slight drop in English skills. EF EPI author Kate Bell noted, “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 suggests that in 2024, there’s an expectation that everyone speaks English, regardless of the reality.”
One of the key findings of the 2024 report is that 60% of the countries studied showed a slight decrease in proficiency compared to the previous year. This indicates a broader global trend of stagnation or decline in English language skills. However, there was a positive development in youth proficiency, as the long-running downward trend in English skills among those aged 18 to 20 stopped in this year’s survey.
The report also highlights a persistent gender gap in English proficiency. Although the gap narrowed slightly, as men’s proficiency declined more than women’s, men still maintain higher English proficiency than women in 40 countries. Africa is the only region where women consistently outperform men in English proficiency, with women’s skills improving more than men’s on the continent.
Regionally, the report reveals mixed results. Asia saw the largest decline in English proficiency compared to last year, largely driven by India and, to a lesser extent, China. Europe also experienced a slight overall decline, with countries outside the European Union performing better than those within it. In Latin America, proficiency remained stable after years of improvement, with some regional variations in English skill levels. Meanwhile, English proficiency in the Middle East continues to improve, particularly in Saudi Arabia, albeit at a slower pace.
The EF EPI has become a crucial tool for tracking global English proficiency trends, and the 2024 report paints a picture of a world where English skills are increasingly seen as a basic requirement, yet progress in improving them is stagnating. This highlights the growing gap between the expectation of English proficiency and the actual state of language education worldwide. As countries, education systems, and businesses continue to prioritise English, the report suggests that more attention is needed to ensure skills continue to improve and meet global demand.
