This article looks at the top 13 English speaking countries in Asia.
English stands out as the de facto language of communication between people who do not share another language. According to the International Center for Language Studies, over 1.5 billion people worldwide speak English. However, only 25% of them are native speakers, with the rest adopting it as a second language. It is the most widely spread language in the world, spoken in 186 countries.
READ ALSO: 20 Most Fluent English Speaking Countries In The World and 20 Worst English Speaking Countries in Asia.
English’s status as the lingua franca of the world has been greatly influenced by the former British Empire’s colonization of several countries and regions. As a result, it is the official language of 67 countries and 27 non-sovereign entities globally. The language also dominates digital media, with over half of all websites using English for their content.
The global market for English language learning was valued at $24.8 billion in 2023 and is forecast to cross the $70 billion mark by 2030, with a CAGR of 14% between this period. Recognizing the essential role of the language in global communication, several notable companies are providing services for learning English.
Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR) is an online learning platform that works with universities and organizations to provide courses, including detailed English language programs covering grammar, writing, and vocabulary. Learners on the platform also receive certificates upon successful completion of their courses.
Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) offers a wide library of courses with varying proficiency levels. English language courses on the platform include video lectures, quizzes, and other interactive exercises aimed at enhancing the English language skills of the learners.
Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) is a mobile learning platform that provides courses in over 40 different languages. The company uses research-based methods to teach reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills to users. In its 2023 language report, Duolingo, Inc. named English as the most popular language to learn on the app, emerging as the number one language to study in 122 countries.
A large number of Asian learners on Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) cited education as their motivation behind taking the English language course. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the company posted a revenue of $192.6 million, up 40% year-over-year. Total bookings increased 38% during the quarter from last year, while subscription bookings were up by 45%. DUOL locked in a 54% increase in daily active users to reach 37.2 million and a 36% increase in monthly active users to reach 113.1 million.
Baron Opportunity Fund stated the following regarding Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:
Duolingo, Inc. is the world’s leading language learning app with over 100 million monthly active users, known for its effective gamification and high engagement. After monitoring the company over the past year and a half, we developed conviction to buy the stock for a few reasons. The company has maintained premium levels of user growth (daily average user growth of over 50%) and revenue growth (40%-plus), executed well against their product roadmap, gained early traction with new functionality, and maintained impressive 40%-plus incremental margins. We view the founder-led management team as best in class, technically capable (CEO and CTO both earned PhDs in machine learning from Carnegie Mellon University), and product focused. We initiated a position in the quarter as the share price fell to what we deemed attractive levels from a long-term valuation perspective, coupled with material catalysts on the horizon, particularly the broader launch of AI functionality (branded “Max”) that enables users to have real-time conversations with AI based characters and a substantial improvement of the company’s Advanced English offering. We believe that these two initiatives take Duolingo from more of a hobby app to a company that can address the broader market of 1.8 billion people learning English today. As these products roll-out in the coming quarters, we believe their adoption should drive the realization of higher pricing, faster revenue growth, lower churn, and continued margin improvement. We also believe there is additional optionality in newer products such as math and music, which are earlier in their product evolution.
While we acknowledge the potential of DUOL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DUOL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
Methodology
We consulted Education First’s English Proficiency Index (EPI) 2024 to identify the top 13 English speaking countries in Asia. This index evaluates and ranks the proficiency of populations in the English language in 116 countries and regions. The countries are ranked in ascending order of their EPI scores.
The index listed countries in Asia and the Middle East separately. We clubbed them both together for our analysis, as the Middle East is generally considered part of Asia. The EPI listed Turkiye under Europe. Therefore, it is not part of our list.
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Top 13 English Speaking Countries in Asia:
13. India
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 69
English Proficiency Index Score: 490
English is a widely spoken language in India. It is often taught in educational institutions as part of the curriculum and is the communication medium in the nation’s corporate sector. According to a 2014 Forbes report, around 30% of the country’s population could speak some English. However, trends for 2016-2024 shared by Education First reveal a consistent decline in English language proficiency levels in the country’s youth aged between 18 and 30. India’s EPI score for 2024 has dropped by 14 points from last year.
12. Lebanon
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 68
English Proficiency Index Score: 492
Lebanon is among the top English speaking countries in Asia and ranks third in the Middle East. Its capital, Beirut, has been ranked in the moderate proficiency list for cities considered by Education First in its index. French is still widely spoken as a second language in the country because of its colonial legacy. However, there has been a shift in recent decades, driven by the impact of globalization, social media, and tourism, resulting in a growing use of the English language.
11. Pakistan
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 67
English Proficiency Index Score: 493
English is one of the official languages of Pakistan, alongside Urdu. It is taught as a compulsory subject in most schools in the country and is also the medium of communication in higher education. Despite its linguistic diversity, a significant proportion of the country can converse – with varying degrees – in English. It is common to find judicial verdicts, traffic signs, and advertisement billboards in the English language in the country.
10. Vietnam
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 63
English Proficiency Index Score: 498
According to Education First, Vietnam ranks 63rd in the world for English proficiency and is among the top English speaking countries in Asia. The language is gaining popularity in the country, especially among the youth, with the government introducing English into the education system. There is a high prevalence of local English speakers in places that are popular among foreign tourists.
9. Iran
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 62
English Proficiency Index Score: 499
Despite the English language not having any recognized status in Iran, it is widely used in the media and business affairs. There are also numerous schools and private academies that teach the language. Iran is the second most proficient English-speaking country in the Middle East, after Israel. The EPI 2024 index has ranked Tehran amongst global cities with moderate proficiency in English.
8. Bangladesh
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 61
English Proficiency Index Score: 500
Bangladesh is one of the top English speaking countries in Asia, with Dhaka having the highest number of English speakers. The age group between 26 and 30 is most proficient in the language, according to the EPI 2024. The use of English in Bangladesh dates back to the British colonial period. In recent times, there has been an increase in the use of the English language, influenced by globalization, an uptick in International GCSEs (British curriculum), and the emergence of English-language TV channels.
7. Nepal
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 56
English Proficiency Index Score: 512
Nepal has seen a five-point increase in its English proficiency index scores compared to 2023. It is seventh in our list of the top English speaking countries in Asia. According to the British Council, English language teaching has a longer history than the Nepali language in the country’s education system. English language education in modern-day Nepal began in 1854 and has grown to become the second-most widely used language in various spheres of life in the country.
6. Israel
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 51
English Proficiency Index Score: 522
Israel has been categorized as a moderately proficient country when it comes to speaking English. Ranked 51st in the world, it is the most fluent English speaking country in the Middle East. While English does not enjoy the same status as Hebrew and Arabic in Israel, it is widely used on road signs and in official logos. A significant proportion of the population, especially among the younger generation, is also able to converse in English.
5. South Korea
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 50
English Proficiency Index Score: 523
South Korea’s proficiency in English has worsened over the last two years. It slipped 13 notches to the 49th spot in 2023 and has dropped one more position in 2024 to be ranked 50th. Despite that, it continues to be among the top English speaking countries in Asia. While it is not the official language of the country, South Koreans are fairly proficient in English, aided by a high number of students traveling to the United States for higher education every year.
4. Hong Kong
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 32
English Proficiency Index Score: 549
English is one of the two official languages in Hong Kong, widely used by the government and by the legal and business sectors because of its colonial history. An increasing number of educational institutes are adopting English as the medium of instruction. The language is widely spoken across various spheres in Hong Kong.
3. Malaysia
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 26
English Proficiency Index Score: 566
Malaysia ranks third among the top English speaking countries in Asia. The language is widely spoken and understood in the country, especially in its urban centers. Kuala Lumpur is categorized by Education First among the most highly proficient cities in the world in the language. English has been mandated as a compulsory subject in schools in Malaysia.
2. Philippines
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 22
English Proficiency Index Score: 570
English is one of the two official languages in the Philippines, alongside Filipino – the national language. According to recent polls, about 55% of the population can speak the language. The Philippines has been categorized by the EFI among the highly proficient English speaking countries in the world. It is ranked second in Asia.
1. Singapore
Global English Proficiency Ranking: 3
English Proficiency Index Score: 609
Singapore is the third most proficient English speaking country in the world. While it has four official languages – Mandarin, Malay, English, and Tamil – it is English, which serves as the lingua franca for its multicultural population. It is also the working language of the government and the medium of instruction in schools. According to the Oxford Political Review, about half of all Singaporeans converse in English at home.
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