PETALING JAYA: Malaysians have demonstrated their prowess in the English language by ranking first in Asia, according to the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI).
The Education First English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) is the largest international survey of adult English skills as it evaluates the English language proficiency of 2.2 million non-native English speakers in 123 countries and regions.
In the 2025 edition, the top three countries in Asia were Malaysia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong (China), in that order. On a global scale, Malaysia climbed two spots to 24th.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur was categorised as a city with high English proficiency, obtaining a score of 588 in the EF EPI 2025 Capital City score, up from 584 last year.
The 2025 EF EPI also puts Penang as the top region in Malaysia for English proficiency, securing a score of 589.
Similarly, Kuantan takes the spotlight as the top city, achieving a score of 601.
Individuals within the age range of 26 to 30 exhibit the highest level of English mastery in the nation, showcasing an average score of 595.
Malaysia also obtained a score of 596 for reading, 584 for writing, 534 for speaking and 576 for listening.
Overall, Malaysia secured a total score of 581 in the 2025 index, an increase of 15 points compared to last year.
Certain countries were excluded from the 2025 rankings. Only cities and regions with at least 100 test takers, and countries with at least 400 test takers, were included in the index.
The Standard English Test (EF SET) is an online, adaptive English test of reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. It is a standardised, objectively scored test designed to classify test takers’ language abilities into one of the six levels established by the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF provides culturally immersive education through language, travel, cultural exchange, and academic programmes in over 100 countries.
The EF EPI is an annual ranking of countries and regions by English skills. The EF EPI is based on test scores from the EF SET, used worldwide by schools, companies, and governments for large-scale testing as well as individual test takers.
This Index is not guaranteed to be representative of a country's performance as only those who want to learn English or are curious about their language skills participated in the EF SET.
