The annual ranking of English proficiency worldwide, released in November of last year, shows how countries around the globe stack up in their English-language skills. In 2025, the Netherlands led the pack with Norway, Singapore, Sweden, and Croatia rounding out the top 5.
According to the latest EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), Czechia ranks #23 globally with a score of 582, surpassing the global average of 488 and placing the country in the “high proficiency” category, a fifteen-place improvement from last year.
The index reveals some surprises when tracking how individual cities and regions perform in terms of English proficiency, with levels varying significantly by location, and some spots on the map demonstrating notably stronger language skills than others.
Understanding the index
The EF EPI is one of the world’s most comprehensive rankings of English language skills, assessing reading, listening, writing, and speaking abilities across different demographics.
For Czechia, the data reveals interesting patterns: Czech speakers excel particularly in reading (598) and listening (579), while writing (537) and especially speaking (498) present greater challenges. This pattern suggests that while Czechs consume English content effectively, producing it, particularly in real-time conversation, remains more difficult.
The index also tracks proficiency trends over time, showing that Czech English skills have remained relatively stable since 2011, consistently performing above the global average. Age-based analysis indicates that younger adults (18-25 years) demonstrate the highest proficiency levels, with skills gradually declining in older age groups, a trend common in countries where English education has improved in recent decades.
Top-performing cities and regions
Brno: The English capital
Leading the pack by a significant margin is Brno, Czechia’s second-largest city, with an impressive score of 620. This places Brno not just at the top of Czech cities but in the “very high proficiency” category by global standards.
Prague: A surprising position
Somewhat counterintuitively, Prague scores 576, significantly lower than Brno, despite being the nation’s capital and primary epicenter of international activity. While this score is still solid and above the national average, it suggests that Prague’s large expatriate community may operate in an international bubble.
Regional rankings: South Moravia leads
Examining broader regional data, the South Moravian Region leads the list with a score of 612, which is understandable given that Brno is its capital. Following closely is the Moravian-Silesian Region at 596, which includes the industrial city of Ostrava. The Prague region itself scores 587 as a whole.
Other notable performers include the Liberec region (580) in the north, benefiting from proximity to the German and Polish borders, the Central Bohemian region (569), surrounding Prague, Ústí nad Labem Region (568) in the northwest.
Mid-tier regions include Pardubice (563), Olomouc (561), and Plzeň (557), while Hradec Králové brings up the rear at 550, though even this score represents competent proficiency.
What do these numbers mean?
The 70-point gap between Brno and Hradec Králové represents a substantial difference in practical English ability. Someone from Brno would likely navigate complex professional discussions, consume English media without subtitles, and write detailed emails with relative ease. In contrast, while Hradec Králové residents can certainly function in English, they might struggle more with nuanced conversations or technical terminology.
The regional patterns reveal several factors at play. University cities consistently outperform others (Brno, Prague, and Olomouc), all of which host major universities with international programs.
Border regions like Liberec benefit from cross-border commerce and cultural exchange. Industrial regions with an international manufacturing presence, such as the Moravian-Silesian region, show stronger scores than more agriculturally focused areas.
Gender trends across Czechia indicate that women slightly outperform men in English proficiency, a pattern consistent with many European countries. This gap has remained stable over the past decade, suggesting that systemic rather than generational factors are at play.
Perhaps most telling is the skill breakdown: Czechs score nearly 100 points higher in reading than in speaking. This suggests that English education in Czechia has traditionally emphasized passive comprehension over active production, and that opportunities for authentic English conversation remain limited outside major urban centers.
Neighboring Germany (598), Poland (588), Hungary (585), and Slovakia (584) beat out Czechia in language proficiency. The Netherlands, which ranked first, has a score of 636.