English fluency varies dramatically around the world

[Beijingwalker]

August 13 2026
English fluency varies dramatically around the world. From China at 0.9% to Gibraltar at 100%, these figures highlight the huge differences in English proficiency across countries and regions.

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[Beijingwalker]

Korea and Japan could be on the similar level with China's. East Asians don't speak English.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Yes - but English is the nearest thing we have to a global language we have as a species...

 

[Beijingwalker]

Yes - but English is the nearest thing we have to a global language we have as a species...

Not here in East Asia, where Confucianism and Chinese tradtional influence in all sectors of life is so deep rooted.

 

[retaxis]

Its important to be bilingual these days

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Its important to be bilingual these days

Agreed.

Yet, English is the accepted business language for many companies with a global presence. Not Chinese.

 

[retaxis]

Agreed.

Yet, English is the accepted business language for many companies with a global presence. Not Chinese.

Of course thats why english is by far the largest second language being taught in China and its not even close.

 

[Beijingwalker]

Of course thats why english is by far the largest second language being taught in China and its not even close.

Now many Chinese use AI and various translation apps to do the translation, less and less people mind learning English now.

 

[retaxis]

Now many Chinese use AI and various translation apps to do the translation, less and less people mind learning English now.

That may be true but its good to learn many languages like singaporeans who on average know 4 -5 languages.

More knowledge is always beneficial in the long run because language is also understanding of another culture

 

[ety]

There must be more than 0.9% Chinese that can speak some English, but maybe not fluently. I mean English is taught as the first foreign language in all Chinese schools starting in middle schools or even in elementary. Chinese Gaokao or national college entrance examination includes English language too.

 

[ety]

So, the original BRICS countries China, Brazil, Russia and even India have the lowest rate of English fluency in the world in this survey. It's no accident then these countries want to form an economic group not dominated by the English speaking British and Americans.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

There must be more than 0.9% Chinese that can speak some English, but maybe not fluently. I mean English is taught as the first foreign language in all Chinese schools starting in middle schools or even in elementary. Chinese Gaokao or national college entrance examination includes English language too.

English seems to still be required in China

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Chinese English Gaokao

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How Do Chinese People Actually Learn English?

 

[Beijingwalker]

English seems to still be required in China

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Chinese English Gaokao

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How Do Chinese People Actually Learn English?

View attachment 210665

English is still required in Chinese schools, no one argued about it, just less people are keen in learning it, and East Asians are bad at English in the first place due to their own strong cultural and linguistic root.