Vietnam has made significant progress in English proficiency, moving up two places to rank 58th out of 113 non-native English-speaking countries and territories, according to the EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) by Education First. With a score of 505 out of 800, Vietnam’s English proficiency is considered in the “moderate proficiency” category, along with 32 other countries. This score is three points higher than last year and three points higher than the global average.
Notably, the Red River Delta region, particularly Hanoi, stands out as the top English proficiency area in Vietnam, with an index of 538. Additionally, the English proficiency index for Vietnamese men is 513, surpassing that of women at 498. In the ranking of 23 Asian countries and territories, Vietnam maintains its seventh position, with Singapore leading the continent and ranking second globally with a “very high proficiency” index.
While South and Southeast Asia experienced a slight decline in English proficiency on average, many countries in the region demonstrated stable or modest improvements. Central Asia, on the other hand, maintained a low and stable level of English proficiency, with higher gender gaps favoring men in most countries. In East Asia, adult English proficiency has been decreasing over the past four years, with Japan experiencing a decline for a decade.
The COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions have impacted English proficiency levels worldwide. However, EF suggests that the decline in English proficiency may also reflect broader political and demographic shifts, as well as growing confidence in questioning Western cultural dominance in education.
Globally, the Netherlands retains its top position, followed by Singapore, Austria, Denmark, and Norway. The top three positions remain unchanged compared to last year, although Denmark and Norway have switched places. The EF English Proficiency Index is based on the analysis of 2.2 million adults who took the SET English tests, an online and adaptive assessment that classifies language abilities according to the Common European Framework of Reference.
