7th graders attend a science class in English at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City, 2021. Photo by EMG Education
Vietnam’s standing in the global English proficiency ranking this year has dropped by five places from 2023 to the lowest-ranking group, according to a report released by EF Education First on Wednesday.
The country now ranks 63rd out of 116 nations and territories, with a score of 498 out of 800. This places Vietnam in the “low proficiency” category, with an index range of 450-499.
This marks a decline from last year’s ranking of 58th.
Vietnam’s peak position was 52nd in 2019.
The Red River Delta region exhibits the strongest English proficiency in this year ranking, with Hanoi leading the way. The capital city’s English Proficiency Index stands at 524, followed closely by HCMC and Hai Phong, both with scores of 523.
In terms of age demographics, the best English skills are seen among individuals aged 26-30. Men outperform women in English proficiency, with a score of 507 compared to 489 for women.
Regionally, Vietnam ranks 8th among the 23 countries and territories in Asia, falling one position from last year.
Singapore remains the highest-ranked Asian country, scoring 609 points and ranking 3rd globally. Singapore is the only Asian nation in the “very high proficiency” category, with a score above 600.
The Netherlands tops the ranking globally with 636 points, followed by Norway with 610.
The 2024 English Proficiency Index is based on the results of EF SET tests taken by over 2.1 million non-native English speakers aged 18 and older.
According to Kate Bell, the report’s author, global English proficiency has been declining for the fourth consecutive year. He noted that 60% of the ranked countries and territories recorded lower scores than in the previous year, with the largest declines observed in Asia, primarily driven by drops in India and China’s scores.
EF is one of the world’s largest academic institutions. The English Proficiency Index report has been issued annually since 2011.
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