Philippines, Highly Proficient at English, Second Most English-proficient in Asia

Filipinos utilize English with high proficiency, the second most skilled nation in Asia and 22nd worldwide as regards English use, according to Education First’s (EF) English Proficiency Index (EPI) published this November 2024.

With a score of 570, the Philippines stands behind Singapore, which emerges as the top Asian country in English language proficiency, with 609 EPI rating.

Malaysia occupies the third spot in the Asian ranking with 566 score, followed by Hong Kong at 549 and Armenia with 537.

The EF reported that Filipino women are slightly ahead of their male compatriots in English versatility at 571 rating versus men’s 569.

Among the 18 regions in the Philippines, Cordillera Administrative Region emerges as the most English-proficient region in the country, and Baguio comes as the top city among the 149 ones nationwide.

EF’s report indicates that the high English-language-proficiency rating of Filipinos reflects their grip of the necessary English skills to make presentations at work, understand television shows, and read newspapers, among other activities employing the language.

Globally, the Netherlands comes on top of the EPI for the sixth consecutive year at 636 points, followed by Norway at 610, Singapore, Sweden at 608, and Croatia at 607.

The EPI looks into the rise and fall in English proficiency worldwide. Published annually since 2011, it measures the extent of the proficiency movement not only geographically, but also across societal sectors and divides such as gender and industry.

The 2024 edition ranks 116 countries and regions throughout the globe based on the EF’s Standard English Test administered to 2.1 million individuals aged 18 years and above in the past year, 2023.

Among the recommendations the report gives to enhance English-language proficiency are ensuring long, intensive adult language courses that are government-funded; airing television shows and films in their original language, with subtitles rather than dubbing; and using social media and technological devices through English towards gaining more exposure to the language.