Portugal ranks 6th in the world in the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) with a score of 605. This performance places the country among the top nations for English proficiency. Only the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and Croatia ranked higher in this year's assessment.
The EF EPI analysed data from 2.1 million adults worldwide who took the EF SET English tests in 2023. English language skills are increasingly recognised as a key factor in economic growth and innovation. Countries with higher levels of English proficiency benefit from better access to global markets, improved professional collaboration and greater agility in adapting to the demands of globalisation.
Portugal's capital, Lisbon, also performed strongly in the EF EPI Capital City Scores, tying with Zagreb for the top spot with a score of 626.
According to EF's report, English remains crucial for driving innovation and accessing advanced AI-driven tools and technologies, which continue to favour English-based systems.
