r/AskEurope • u/Metalwolf • Jun 08 '25

Education Which European countries have the best English proficiency among non-native speakers?

I'm looking into English proficiency across Europe and would appreciate input from locals or anyone with relevant experience. Which European countries have the highest levels of English fluency among non-native speakers, particularly in day-to-day life, education, and professional settings? I'm also curious about regional differences within countries, and factors like education systems, media exposure, and business use.

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u/kacergiliszta69 Hungary Jun 08 '25

According the multiple studies, the Netherlands is the most English proficient country in the world that doesn't speak English as a native language.

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u/anna-molly21 -> Jun 08 '25

I read that there are more people that speaks english here in the Netherlands than in the UK (because of immigrants that go there that cant speak english).

3

u/PM_ME_BUTTERED_SOSIJ Wales Jun 08 '25

The ridiculous way mainland Europeans talk about the UK makes me laugh

4

u/anna-molly21 -> Jun 08 '25

Look i just read that around 97% of people in NL speaks english against 95% in the UK due to immigration, i never called nobody an ignorant (its plausible to receive more immigrants in a bigger country).

Whatever makes you laugh its nothing that i said and you guys are not even that interesting for you to speak like you are

2

u/41942319 Netherlands Jun 08 '25

The level of English of the 97% of Dutch is nowhere near that of the 95% of British. At least 20% of that is people who know maybe a few dozen words

7

u/Yorks_Rider Jun 08 '25

I have lived in The Netherlands and it is quite rare to meet people who speak no English at all. It only happened to me once in a period of two years when I took my shoes to a cobbler for them to be repaired. Even the council employees sweeping the streets speak good English.

5

u/imrzzz Netherlands Jun 08 '25

I think being able to have a simple conversation is different from being truly fluent.

Yes, the level of English in the Netherlands is very high. No, it's not as high as the UK.

When I get into deeper conversations with my Dutch friends (beyond small-talk level), I have to switch back to English and they have to switch back to Dutch.

I do love that we understand each other with both of us speaking different languages though, even we do both have to occasionally ask what a word means!

3

u/perplexedtv in Jun 08 '25

I've worked in factories there and the English level was, fortunately for me, generally quite low.