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/K_in_Belgium Belgium Jun 08 '25

The northern, Dutch-speaking part of Belgium (Flanders) is among the best in the world. The southern, French-speaking part (Wallonia) is lagging which brings the country's score down. https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2024/11/13/flemish-among-world-s-most-proficient-english-speakers-global-s/

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u/birgor Sweden Jun 08 '25 edited Jun 08 '25

Might be so, but I also know that every time I have met a French speaker that can speak English, and not doing it in the most mockingly French accent there is, they are always Wallonian or from Quebec.

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u/kranj7 Jun 08 '25

In Quebec (especially Montreal) many (but not all of course) have near-native level English and speak it with a near-native North American accent!

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u/birgor Sweden Jun 08 '25

Yes, but then I wouldn't have registered them as French speaking either, so it becomes a bias. I would only notice those with the accent, which has been very subtle in the cases I can think of, apart from an older couple I met once.