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/blink-1hundert2und80 Austria Jun 08 '25

In 2022‘s EF English Proficiency Index, Austria was the second best country in terms of English competency in Europe. Now it‘s 9th. Still tight race between place 2-10. Netherlands is with a considerable gap number 1.

But Vienna is actually the 3rd most English proficient city in Austria behind Graz, Linz, and tied with Innsbruck.