Hong Kong falls in global English proficiency rankings, lagging behind Malaysia and the Philippines

International language training firm EF Education First revealed the information in its 2024 English Proficiency Index. Hong Kong ranked 32nd among 116 countries and regions, putting it into the “moderate proficiency” category.

The latest results have knocked the city out of its spot in the “high proficiency” group as it lags behind Malaysia, ranked at 26, and the Philippines at 22.

Among all the city’s age groups, those aged 18-20 saw the sharpest decline in proficiency.

Steven Hon, General Manager of EF Hong Kong & Macau, expressed concern over the declining English proficiency among young people: “It’s been a year since schools resumed after the pandemic, yet the English level of young people continues to drop, which is worrying.”

“Many of the students we’ve spoken with have expressed their interest in studying abroad or working overseas, but often they admit that their English skills are insufficient to meet these challenges.”

Hon stressed the critical role of English in Hong Kong’s development: “Learning English is ... an essential tool for becoming global citizens, facilitating communication and integration with the world. Continuous improvement in English proficiency will be key to building an internationalised future for the next generation.”

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Released earlier this month, the findings are based on test results from more than 2.1 million people aged 18 and older who took the EF Standard English Test in 2023. The Netherlands placed first globally.

Mainland China, a “low proficiency” nation, fell sharply in the rankings, dropping nine places to 91st this year. This marked an even steeper decline than in 2023, when China dropped 20 spots after being ranked 62nd in 2022. It was categorised as “moderate proficiency” and ranked 49th in 2021.

The report indicated that global English proficiency has been falling for four consecutive years, with 60 per cent of countries and regions surveyed scoring lower than the previous year.

Asia’s scores declined “more than any other region in the world” compared to last year. Countries such as Thailand and Cambodia ranked at the bottom of the index in the “very low proficiency” category.

The survey, first published in 2011, evaluates English proficiency across five bands: Very High, High, Moderate, Low, and Very Low. According to the index, Hong Kong’s “moderate” ranking means the average person could accomplish tasks like writing professional emails and conducting meetings in English.

The index emphasised the link between English proficiency and economic performance, with higher proficiency linked to greater innovation, global competitiveness, and professional mobility.

The report called for initiatives to bolster English learning through digital tools, teacher training, and targeted policies for rural and underserved areas.

It said governments and education authorities should prioritise English training by ensuring accessible lifelong learning opportunities for adults, including jobseekers and marginalised groups like migrants and refugees.

The report also suggested that schools adopt communication-based teaching methods, reward practical language use, and integrate English requirements across all disciplines. It should also provide support for teachers to improve their skills.

While the report recommended making the most of AI-powered learning tools, it cautioned against viewing them as substitutes for skilled human teachers: “The temptation to replace human teachers with AI coaches will be strong, especially given how scalable and inexpensive that solution would be,” the report stated.

“However ... a lack of human interaction, uneven quality, and a sense that no one is invested in your progress could strongly dampen motivation, one of the defining characteristics of the successful language learner.”