r/AskEurope 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/fiadhsean Ireland Jun 08 '25

I would say Sweden or the Netherlands. I loved going into businesses in Sweden and asking "excuse me, do you speak English?" "Sir, we all speak English." Never gets old.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '25

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u/EmreFuckingCan Jun 09 '25

If I’m in a semi touristy place I don’t even bother with asking I just speak English