10 Countries that Speak English the Best

In this article, we will talk about the 15 countries that speak English the best. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Countries that Speak English the Best.

English is one of the most spoken languages in the world, and the number of English speakers is growing worldwide. According to Tomedes, the number of English speakers increased from 1.05 billion in 2011 to 1.30 billion in 2021, showcasing a growth rate of 23.31% in a decade. Moreover, English is also one of Europe's most commonly spoken languages. According to data from Eurostat, more than 88% of the pupils in upper secondary education in the European Union were learning English as a foreign language in 2021.

1. Romania
EPI Score: 596

Romania ranks first on our list. It is a European country with a population of approximately 19.04 million and a GDP per capita of $15,076.5. It ranks high on the English Proficiency Index 2023 with a score of 596.

2. Finland
EPI Score: 597

Finland ranks 14 on our list of best English-speaking countries in the world. It is in Europe, with a population of 5.56 million and a GDP per capita of $53,654.8. It ranks under the ‘high proficiency’ countries per the English First EPI Index. It has an EPI score of 597.

3. Poland
EPI Score: 598

Poland is another European country with a population of 36.8 million and a GDP per capita of $18,688. Though the official language of the country is Polish, it still ranks high on the English proficiency index with an EPI score of 598.

4. Greece
EPI Score: 602

Greece ranks 12th on our list. It is situated in Europe and is a $217.58 billion economy with a GDP per capita of $20,867.3. The official language of Greece is Greek, but it still ranks under the ‘very high’ category of the English proficiency index, with an EPI score of 602.

5. Croatia
EPI Score: 603

Croatia is a small European country. It has a population of 3.85 million, and Croatian is its official language. Croatia ranks 11th on our list of 15 countries that speak English the best, with an EPI score of 603.

6. Germany
EPI Score: 604

Germany is another European country with a population of 83.8 million and a GDP per capita of $51,203.5. Though German is the official language of Germany, it still ranks higher on the English proficiency index with an EPI score of 604.

7. South Africa
EPI Score: 605

Ranking 9th on our list, South Africa. It is situated at the southernmost end of the African continent. It has a population of 59.9 million and has many official languages. It ranks high on the English proficiency index with an EPI score of 605.

8. Portugal
EPI Score: 607

Portugal is a southern European country that borders itself with Spain. It has a population of 10.4 million and speaks Polish as its official language. Poland ranks 8th on our list and has an EPI score of 607.

9. Belgium
EPI Score: 608

Belgium is a Western European country with a population of 11.69 million. It has a GDP of $594.1 billion and a GDP per capita of $51,247. Belgium has three official languages, including Dutch, French, and German. It ranks under the “very high” category of the English proficiency index with an EPI score of 608.

10. Sweden
EPI Score: 609

Sweden is a Scandinavian country with a population of 10.49 million. Thousands of coastal islands and glaciated mountains categorize the country. Sweden's official language is Swedish, but it still ranks high in the English proficiency ranking, with an EPI score of 609.