Overview

• EF Education First reports that 60% of countries scored lower in the 2024 English Proficiency Index than in 2023.
• UK coverage lists the 10 lowest-scoring countries with EF scores out of 800 plus current Foreign Office travel guidance.
• The bottom tier features Yemen, Somalia, Cote d'Ivoire, Rwanda, Libya, Cambodia, Angola, Tajikistan, Benin, and Iraq.
• The Foreign Office advises no travel to Yemen, with most of Iraq restricted to essential travel in designated areas.
• The index reflects national prevalence rather than individual fluency, while UK context includes a YouGov finding that 20% speak a second language and expert calls to learn local phrases.