In this article, we will take a look at the 20 best countries for English speakers to work. If you would like to skip our detailed analysis of the language learning industry, you can directly look at 5 Best Countries For English Speakers To Work.
Prevalence of the English Language
Over 1.75 billion people around the globe know how to converse in English, making it the most spoken language worldwide. With around 22% of the world’s population having some proficiency in the language, it can be considered a sort of universal language that ties everyone together. It is the dominant language in the business world, the entertainment arena, as well as the tourism industry. Regardless of the country you travel to, finding English speakers is not challenging in the 21st century. According to Berlitz, at least 67 countries and territories have English as their official language, which speaks to its penetration ability. When looking at English-speaking countries by population, several are located outside North America and Australia.
Language and Economics
In addition to being the most widely spoken tongue, English has managed to amass significant economic power. According to the Power Language Index by Kai L. Chen, English comes up top on all five indicators, including geography, economy, communication, diplomacy, and knowledge & media. Much of it can be attributed to the commercial successes achieved by the US and the UK over the course of the last two centuries, which have led them to become the breeding ground of hundreds of affluent multinational corporations. According to an article Harvard Business Review, several of these, including big names such as Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), are now taking measures to mandate English as the official language of business in order to facilitate performance and collaboration across various geographically and linguistically diverse regions.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has multiple offices in over 190 countries, making English proficiency a pertinent skill for cross-regional communication. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has also taken the initiative to contribute to economic growth by providing digital skills training to people around the globe, an option that over 23 million people took up in 2022 alone. Furthermore, the company has committed to employing 10 million people from underserved communities in the domain of digital economy by 2025. Opportunities like these are intricately tied with one’s ability to comprehend and converse in English, making it the most essential tongue of the millennium. Hence, English speakers can avail economic and business opportunities in most countries around the globe, regardless of whether those regions speak English as a first language or not.
Companies Working on Eliminating Language Barriers
Since there is an increasing need to acquire English skills, there is also a soaring demand for those who can share this skill with others. Teaching English as a foreign language is one of the most significant economic opportunities for English speakers residing outside of countries such as the US and the UK. Online platforms such as iTalki and Preply follow a one-on-one training model that lets people share their language skills with those looking for them. According to Preply, European countries including Germany and Spain are at the top of the list when it comes to investing in studying English. You can also look at the Top 10 English Speaking Countries in Europe for more information on this.
This is where apps such as Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL) become valuable because they enable individuals to brush up on their English skills, both for conversational and business purposes. According to the 2022 Language Report by Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL), English was the most popular language on the platform, with it being the number one language in the majority of countries across Europe, Asia, and South America. Apart from being amongst the top platforms for language learning, Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL) is also leading the quest for AI integration into education. In March 2023, the company launched Duolingo Max, an advanced learning subscription that is powered by GPT-4 and delivers substantial feedback, such as Explain My Answer and Roleplay, which would not be possible without AI. On November 8, 2023, Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL) reported earnings for the third fiscal quarter of 2023. The company reported earnings per share of $0.60 and outperformed EPS estimates by $0.18. The company also reported a 43% revenue growth for the quarter.
Coursera Inc (NYSE:COUR) is another notable platform in the language learning domain, which offers over 600 courses in the English language, covering everything from basic pronunciation to essential business communication. Coursera Inc (NYSE:COUR) is also making strides in integrating language learning with AI-generative features and VR compatibilities, enhancing students’ ability to engage with a particular language. In April 2023, Coursera Inc (NYSE:COUR) launched a VR experience in Chinese language courses that will allow learners to virtually travel to a Chinese market, and engage in conversation with native speakers. By placing themselves in a real-world scenario, students will be able to enhance their language acquisition abilities.
As the connection between English and the business world grows, the list of the best countries for English speakers to find work continues growing and becomes all the more important to look at. The advancement of this particular language has opened up job opportunities where they would not have existed prior, globalizing the corporate market altogether.
20 Best Countries for English Speakers to Work
Our Methodology
In order to compile this list of the best countries to work for English speakers, we shortlisted 40 countries based on the Education First English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), which was designed after testing the English proficiency level of people in 113 countries. That list was further shortened to 20 countries based on their HDI rankings. The former metric gives an idea regarding the ease of communication an English speaker will have in that particular country, while the second metric elaborates on whether those countries actually provide a suitable standard of living that individuals could look forward to.
It is pertinent to note that HDI rankings also consider Gross National Income per capita, which is another way of looking at how economically beneficial it would be to work in a particular country. The GNI values in this case are from 2021, but they have been adjusted according to the Purchasing Power Parity from 2017. Data from Preply’s index of EEA countries that invest the most in learning English has also been used to further solidify a country’s standing on this list. The countries are ranked in descending order of their proficiency ranks, our primary metric. Our secondary and tertiary metrics are HDI and GNI per capita, and we have used them for tie-breaking in order of the priority we have given them. Based on these indicators, here is our list of the 20 best countries for English speakers to work:
Note: This list will not contain the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand because they are the obvious choices in this scenario. Instead, this list presents other countries that may be non-apparent but are still good choices for English speakers to consider.
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20 Best Countries for English Speakers to Work
20. Italy
Proficiency Rank: 35th
HDI Ranking: 30th
GNI Per Capita: $42,840
Italy is one of the best countries for English speakers to find work. The region with the highest proficiency score was Friuli-Venezia Giulia, with the most proficient English-speaking age group being 26-30. Italy is 4th in the list of EEA countries that invest the most in studying English and has over 2,000 English language schools, the highest in the region.
19. Spain
Proficiency Rank: 35th
HDI Ranking: 27th
GNI Per Capita: $38,354
According to the EF EPI, the Spanish age group with the highest proficiency in English was 26-30, with Asturias being the region with the speakers with the best English skills. Despite being the second-last country on this list, Spain has the highest number of international schools among EEA countries and ranks second when it comes to investing in learning English. Spain is 17th on the list of countries with the most job opportunities for foreigners.
18. Switzerland
Proficiency Rank: 30th
HDI Ranking: 1st
GNI Per Capita: $66,933
In Switzerland, 31-40 was the age group with the highest levels of English proficiency, with the region being Basel-Stadt. It is one of the most commonly spoken non-national languages in the country, with the majority of the population having some level of fluency. A financial markets legislation from 2020 enabled funds marketed in Switzerland to choose English as their official language.
17. Hong Kong
Proficiency Rank: 29th
HDI Ranking: 4th
GNI Per Capita: 6$2,607
Hong Kong is the 3rd best country with job opportunities for foreigners while also being one of the best countries where English speakers can find work. People within the age bracket of 31-40 exhibited the highest level of English proficiency in the region. English is an official language in the country and is used across the business sector and government operations.
16. Czech Republic
Proficiency Rank: 26th
HDI Ranking: 32nd
GNI Per Capita: $38,745
According to the EF EPI, the Czech Republic has shown massive growth in its average level of English proficiency from 2011 to 2023. People in the South Moravian region exhibited the best skills when it came to communicating in English. Smaller cities may have a low number of speakers, but English is taught in schools as an optional language, and almost everyone in the larger cities and tourist areas can converse comfortably in the language.
15. Estonia
Proficiency Rank: 23rd
HDI Ranking: 31st
GNI: $38,048
Estonia has a literacy rate higher than 99%, with most of the population speaking either English or Russian fluently as a second language. A 2022 census survey revealed that English is the most popular foreign language in the country, spoken by 48% of the population. This is why Estonia is one of the best countries for English speakers to find work.
14. Luxembourg
Proficiency Rank: 22nd
HDI Ranking: 17th
GNI Per Capita: $84,649
Luxembourg is one of the richest countries in the world based on GNI per capita values, making it one of the best countries for both living and working. According to a 2018 study by the Ministry of National Education, English is spoken by 80% of the population. The residents have also raised several petitions to make English the fourth official language of the country in order to attract international talent. Currently, the language is used for business and finance in the country.
13. Lithuania
Proficiency Rank: 21st
HDI Ranking: 35th
GNI Per Capita: $37,931
According to the EF EPI, the Lithuanian city of Vilnius had the highest English proficiency in the country. According to recommendations on sites like TripAdvisor and Reddit, most people under the age of 30 can communicate fluently in English, with around 30% of the population having some proficiency in it.
12. Finland
Proficiency Rank: 14th
HDI Ranking: 11th
GNI Per Capita: $49,452
Finland is also the 11th best country with job opportunities for foreigners, in addition to being one of the best countries for English speakers to work. The highest proficiency was seen across the 31-40 age group and the Keski-Suomi region.
11. Poland
Proficiency Rank: 13th
HDI Ranking: 34th
GNI Per Capita: $33,034
Poland has around 1,923 English language schools, with the Podlaskie region being the highest in proficiency. People in the younger age group (21-25) exhibit better English skills, but overall, it’s the most popular foreign language in the country. This is why Poland is among the best countries for English speakers to find work.
10. Greece
Proficiency Rank: 12th
HDI Ranking: 33rd
GNI Per Capita: $29,002
Greek people aged 31-40 exhibited the highest proficiency level, with the top city being Athens. Greece is a top-rated tourist destination in Europe, which means there are many job openings in the tourism industry for those who can converse easily with foreigners from any country. According to Future Market Insights, the Greek tourism industry had a gross revenue of $265.9 Million in 2022.
09. Germany
Proficiency Rank: 10th
HDI Ranking: 9th
GNI Per Capita: $54,534
The highest proficiency in Germany was witnessed in the region of Bavaria. Germany is also one of the best countries for English speakers to find work because it has many job openings for foreigners. The German government has a new migration policy that invites almost 60,000 workers every year, particularly from non-EU countries, which proves to be a massive market for English speakers from other parts of the world.
08. Portugal
Proficiency Rank: 8th
HDI Ranking: 38th
GNI Per Capita: $33,155
English is a widely spoken language all around Portugal, making it one of the most proficient countries. Speakers in the Coimbra region exhibited the best proficiency skills. Portugal launched a digital nomad visa program in 2022, which received several applicants from the UK and USA. It is one of the countries with the easiest work visa approvals for foreigners.
07. Belgium
Proficiency Rank: 7th
HDI Ranking: 13th
GNI Per Capita: $52,293
People in West Flanders and those within the age bracket of 26-30 exhibited the highest English proficiency in the country. Belgium is one of the best places for English speakers to work in 2024 because of the high number of job opportunities in the IT, healthcare, finance, and construction sectors.
06. Sweden
Proficiency Rank: 6th
HDI Ranking: 7th
GNI Per Capita: $54,489
People in South Sweden had an average proficiency score of 624 out of 700, with people aged 26-30 being the most proficient. English is a mandatory language in Swedish schools, which makes Sweden one of the European countries with the best English skills. The language is widely used in the business and tourism sectors.
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Disclosure: None. 20 Best Countries For English Speakers To Work is originally published on Insider Monkey.