Germany's English Proficiency Climbs to Fourth Place in 2025 Rankings
Germany's English Proficiency Climbs to Fourth Place in 2025 Rankings
In an exciting development, Germany has successfully risen to fourth place in the latest EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) for 2025. This marks a significant leap from its previous position at tenth place. The report, released by EF (Education First), a global leader in language and educational travel, ranks the English skills of adults across 123 countries and regions, based on data from 2.2 million participants involved in the EF Skills Evaluation Technology (EF SET).
Hedieh Heller, the Managing Director of EF Germany, stated that the improvement in Germany’s ranking illustrates the importance and benefits of investing in language skills and education. "English continues to be the most widely spoken language for international communication. Our advancement to fourth place emphasizes how crucial English language proficiency is in today's interconnected world. It serves as a vital link between people, cultures, economies, and scientific communities—a bridge that has never been more essential," Heller noted.
What sets this year's report apart is the expanded analysis of speaking and writing skills among non-native English speakers, along with traditional listening and reading comprehension. This addition was possible through the innovative AI technology developed by Efekta Education Group, a branch of EF that specializes in using AI for educational advancements.
Key Findings of the 2025 EF EPI:
- - Top Performers: With Germany's notable climb, the Netherlands retains its top position, followed by Croatia in second place and Austria making strides to secure third. Germany's score of 615 positions it within the “very good proficiency” category, ahead of Italy (513), France (539), and Spain (540), which exhibit moderate proficiency.
- - Speaking Skills Challenge: Despite the advancements, speaking abilities remain a challenge in over half of the evaluated countries, reflecting a need for enhanced focus on spoken communication skills in language education.
- - Gender Parity: Gender disparities in English proficiency are narrowing, with men and women in Germany achieving nearly equal scores, although women still hold a slight edge.
- - Young Adults' Performance: Alarmingly, the proficiency levels among young adults under 20 in Germany have not yet fully bounced back post-pandemic, indicating an area of concern that needs immediate attention.
- - Regional Insights: Within the DACH region, Austria leads, followed by Germany and Switzerland. Furthermore, Germany's writing and speaking scores exceed those of the Netherlands; however, the latter remains overall in the lead.
Kate Bell, an author of the EF EPI, added, "The results angle towards the close relationship between English proficiency and economic opportunity, as well as international networking. In this age of artificial intelligence, English is not just a necessity but a foundation for actively shaping the future, especially since leading AI tools are predominantly developed in English."
The complete report can be downloaded from the EF website at www.ef.de/epi.
About EF
Founded in 1965, EF (Education First) is a global network of educational companies that aims to open new horizons through education. EF offers language courses, cultural exchanges, school and university degrees, and educational travel opportunities.
About Efekta
Efekta is an innovative technology company and a global leader in AI-powered learning technology, dedicated to enhancing educational outcomes and making learning more affordable and accessible for public and private schools, universities, and international corporations.
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