English Proficiency in Asia in 2025

English continues to play an important role across Asia, supporting international education, business, tourism, technology, and communication.

The 2025 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), published by Education First, provides a snapshot of English skills among adults around the world. The 2025 edition is based on test results from 2.2 million adults in 123 countries and regions.

Among the Asian countries and regions included in the ranking, Malaysia leads with a score of 581, placing 24th globally. Its result is classified as high proficiency, and Malaysia's score is also significantly above the global average of 488. The Philippines follows with 569, ranking 28th globally and also falling within the high-proficiency category.

Hong Kong records a score of 538, followed by South Korea at 522. Both are categorized as having moderate English proficiency. South Korea's result is particularly notable because its score remains above the global average, while cities such as Seoul perform even better than the country's overall result.

The next group consists of Nepal with 514, Bangladesh with 506, and Vietnam with 500. All three countries fall within the moderate-proficiency range. Their results demonstrate the considerable role English plays in education, employment, international communication, and access to global information across South and Southeast Asia.

Further down the ranking are Pakistan with 493, Sri Lanka with 486, and India with 484. These scores place the three countries in the low-proficiency category and are close to the EF global average. Bhutan, with 473, and Indonesia, with 471, complete the group of Asian countries highlighted here. Both are also classified as having low English proficiency.

The differences between these scores highlight the diversity of English-language ability across Asia. Countries with strong historical, educational, economic, or cultural connections to English often perform particularly well, while other countries face different linguistic and educational environments.

Overall, the 2025 EF EPI results show that Malaysia and the Philippines stand out as the strongest performers among the 12 Asian countries and regions listed, while the other destinations demonstrate varying levels of English ability.

However, the index should be viewed as an indicator of adult English skills rather than a complete assessment of an entire population, since it is based on people who took EF's tests.