Which EU Countries Have the Highest English Proficiency?

Key Takeaways

• The Netherlands scores highest in English proficiency among the EU countries in this report. It recorded 624 points in 2025. 
• Countries that use subtitles instead of dubbing on foreign shows and movies score much higher in English. That includes the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Croatia.
• Germany recorded a 615 English proficiency score. It ranks 4th among EU countries. German schools have taught English since 2006.
• The top-scoring countries read English much better than they speak it. The Netherlands scores 634 in reading but only 514 in speaking.
• Growing up around English (e.g., through TV or school) explains high English proficiency scores better than a country’s size or wealth.

English Proficiency Scores Across EU Countries

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

Countries That Subtitle Instead of Dubbing Score Higher in English

The Netherlands recorded a 624 EF EPI score in 2025. It posts the highest English proficiency score among all 123 countries and regions tracked by the index.

Countries that subtitle foreign movies and TV shows instead of dubbing them score significantly higher in English. The effect reaches 1.4 standard deviations on EF English Proficiency Index scores.

The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Croatia all subtitle foreign content instead of dubbing it. Viewers hear the original English audio while reading translated text on screen.

Passive exposure to spoken English starts in childhood in these countries and continues for life. Their learning starts even without being exposed in a classroom. yet 

Germany, France, Italy, and Spain dub foreign media into their own language instead.

Despite this, Germany ranks 4th among the 22 EU countries in the index. It recorded a 615 EF EPI score.

A foreign language has been compulsory in German primary schools since 2006. English is the one most schools choose.

Many EU Countries Read English Better Than Speaking It

Every EU country in the top 12 reads and understands English far better than it speaks it.

The Netherlands scores 634 in reading but only 514 in speaking. The same pattern repeats across the rest of the top scorers:

• Croatia: 637 reading, 526 speaking
• Austria: 627 reading, 513 speaking
• Belgium: 611 reading, 495 speaking

Reading and listening improve through passive exposure, like subtitles or textbooks. Speaking requires real conversation practice instead.

Long-term exposure to English explains the EU’s highest scores better than country size or wealth does. That exposure comes from subtitled media in some countries and early compulsory schooling in others.

The Netherlands and Croatia built their advantage through television. Germany built its advantage through the classroom instead.