Malaysia ranks first as the country with the best English proficiency in Southeast Asia in the EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) 2025 report. The country recorded a score of 581, placing it in the high proficiency category and reaffirming its position as one of the countries with a high level of English proficiency globally.
However, the map of English proficiency in the region shows a fairly sharp contrast. Several other Southeast Asian countries remain in the low to very low proficiency categories.
English Proficiency Landscape in Southeast Asia
The report places Malaysia as the highest-scoring country in the region, followed by the Philippines and Vietnam. These three countries demonstrate relatively stronger English proficiency compared with other Southeast Asian nations.
On the other hand, several countries still fall within the moderate to low categories. This disparity indicates that English proficiency across Southeast Asia remains uneven and is influenced by various factors, including education policies, language-use environments, and the level of economic globalization.
Southeast Asian Countries Ranking – EF EPI 2025
| Global Rank | Country | Score | Proficiency Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Malaysia | 581 | High Proficiency |
| 28 | Philippines | 569 | High Proficiency |
| 64 | Vietnam | 500 | Moderate Proficiency |
| 80 | Indonesia | 471 | Low Proficiency |
| 88 | Laos | 461 | Low Proficiency |
| 99 | Myanmar | 444 | Very Low Proficiency |
| 116 | Thailand | 402 | Very Low Proficiency |
| 123 | Cambodia | 390 | Very Low Proficiency |
As a reference, Singapore is not included in the index, as EF categorizes it as a native English-speaking country.
English Proficiency in Southeast Asian Cities
In addition to comparing countries, the report also highlights differences in English proficiency across several major cities in Southeast Asia. Some cities demonstrate stronger proficiency than others, which is often influenced by international economic activity, the education sector, and levels of urbanization.
Cities that serve as international business and tourism hubs tend to record higher scores, as interactions with English speakers occur more frequently. In contrast, cities with lower levels of global exposure generally report lower scores.
Southeast Asian Cities Ranking – EF EPI 2025
| City | Score | Proficiency Category |
|---|---|---|
| Manila | 603 | Very High Proficiency |
| Kuala Lumpur | 588 | High Proficiency |
| Ha Noi | 532 | Moderate Proficiency |
| Jakarta | 523 | Moderate Proficiency |
| Vientiane | 486 | Low Proficiency |
| Pattaya | 474 | Low Proficiency |
| Phnom Penh | 472 | Low Proficiency |
| Bangkok | 467 | Low Proficiency |
| Yangon | 458 | Low Proficiency |
These differences illustrate that English proficiency is not always uniform, even within the same region.
