Key points from the map
- The Netherlands has the highest English proficiency in Europe on the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index, with a score of 636, and is 1st in the world [1].
- Norway (610), Sweden (608), Croatia (607) and Portugal (605) follow. Eight European countries are in the very high band.
- Of the 35 European countries on the map, 8 are very high, 15 high, 10 moderate and 2 low. None is very low.
- Large countries such as Spain, Italy and France are in the moderate band. Turkey and Azerbaijan are the only two rated low.
- The UK and Ireland, where English is the main native language, are left grey and unranked.
English proficiency in Europe in text
Every country on the map, in the order of the ranking table on the image. Ranks are global positions among all countries in the index, so gaps such as 3rd and 11th belong to countries outside Europe.
| Position in Europe | Country | Global rank | EF EPI score | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 1 | 636 | Very high |
| 2 | Norway | 2 | 610 | Very high |
| 3 | Sweden | 4 | 608 | Very high |
| 4 | Croatia | 5 | 607 | Very high |
| 5 | Portugal | 6 | 605 | Very high |
| 6 | Denmark | 7 | 603 | Very high |
| 7 | Greece | 8 | 602 | Very high |
| 8 | Austria | 9 | 600 | Very high |
| 9 | Germany | 10 | 598 | High |
| 10 | Romania | 12 | 593 | High |
| 11 | Belgium | 13 | 592 | High |
| 12 | Finland | 14 | 590 | High |
| 13 | Poland | 15 | 588 | High |
| 14 | Bulgaria | 16 | 586 | High |
| 15 | Hungary | 17 | 585 | High |
| 16 | Slovakia | 18 | 584 | High |
| 17 | Estonia | 20 | 578 | High |
| 18 | Luxembourg | 21 | 576 | High |
| 19 | Lithuania | 23 | 569 | High |
| 20 | Serbia | 24 | 568 | High |
| 21 | Czechia | 25 | 567 | High |
| 22 | Cyprus | 29 | 558 | High |
| 23 | Switzerland | 31 | 550 | High |
| 24 | Georgia | 34 | 543 | Moderate |
| 25 | Belarus | 35 | 539 | Moderate |
| 26 | Spain | 36 | 538 | Moderate |
| 27 | Armenia | 38 | 537 | Moderate |
| 28 | Moldova | 39 | 536 | Moderate |
| 29 | Ukraine | 40 | 535 | Moderate |
| 30 | Albania | 43 | 533 | Moderate |
| 31 | Russia | 44 | 532 | Moderate |
| 32 | Italy | 46 | 528 | Moderate |
| 33 | France | 49 | 524 | Moderate |
| 34 | Turkey | 65 | 497 | Low |
| 35 | Azerbaijan | 86 | 462 | Low |
How the EF index works
The 2024 edition is based on the test results of 2.1 million adults who took EF’s online English test, the EF SET, in 2023 [1]. Scores are a three-year rolling average and fall into five bands linked to the Common European Framework of Reference: 600 and above is very high, 550 to 599 high, 500 to 549 moderate, 450 to 499 low and below 450 very low [1].
EF is open about the limits. The test takers are self-selected, mostly working adults and young adults with internet access, so the sample is not guaranteed to be representative of each country’s population [1].
The report found that English proficiency in Europe had declined slightly, with a larger fall within the EU over four years (13 points) than in the wider European region (2 points) [1].
What changed in the 2025 edition
This map shows the 2024 results. In EF’s 2025 edition, based on 2.2 million adults in 123 countries and regions, the Netherlands is still first, with 624 [2]. Croatia moves up to 2nd (617), followed by Austria (616), Germany (615) and Norway (613) [2]. Slovakia, Romania and Finland are now in the very high band, while Greece drops to 20th with 592 [2].
Notes on this infographic
- No date. The image does not say which edition it shows. The ranks and scores match the Europe page of the EF EPI 2024 report exactly [1].
- Unranked countries. Grey areas include the UK, Ireland and Iceland, and also Latvia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia, which have no score on this map.
Questions about English proficiency in Europe
Which European countries speak the most English?
Among the countries EF ranks, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Croatia and Portugal scored highest on the 2024 EF index [1]. In the 2025 edition the top five are the Netherlands, Croatia, Austria, Germany and Norway [2].
Is Norway an English-speaking country?
English is not Norway’s native language, but Norwegians score very highly in it. Norway was 2nd in Europe on the 2024 EF index with 610, in the very high band [1], and 5th in the world in 2025 [2].
Which European country has the lowest English proficiency?
Azerbaijan, with a score of 462 on the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index, 86th in the world and in the low band [1]. Turkey is the only other European country rated low, with 497 and a global rank of 65. None of the 35 European countries on the map is very low. The UK and Ireland are left unranked.
How is the EF English Proficiency Index measured?
The 2024 edition is based on the test results of 2.1 million adults who took EF's online English test, the EF SET, in 2023 [1]. Scores are a three-year rolling average, and 600 and above is very high, 550 to 599 high, 500 to 549 moderate, 450 to 499 low and below 450 very low [1]. The test takers are self-selected, so the sample is not guaranteed to be representative [1].
Sources
- EF Education First, EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (report PDF; the map is on pages 18 to 19).
- EF Education First, EF EPI 2025, Europe.
Last reviewed 29 October 2026
