EF English Proficiency Index

Since its first release in 2011, the EF English Proficiency Index has operated as a massive, real-time scoreboard for how well adults speak English outside of native-speaking countries. The report skips traditional academic surveys and instead pulls data from millions of volunteers who take the free online EF Standard English Test. This method creates a dataset that reflects actual communication skills rather than just classroom knowledge.

The 2025 edition marked a significant shift by integrating AI-powered insights to track language trends across 123 countries. With over 1.7 million participants providing results, the report highlighted a dramatic reversal in Asia where Japan fell behind Laos and Vietnam for the first time. Meanwhile, European nations like Croatia climbed to second place globally, signaling a major change in regional linguistic performance.

Governments and corporations use these rankings to shape policy and hiring strategies. The sharp decline in Japanese proficiency sparked intense debate about education reform, while Mexico's low scores raised concerns about nearshoring opportunities. By measuring non-native speakers across diverse economies, the index remains the primary tool for understanding the global state of English literacy. [edit]