Southeast Asia English Proficiency Rankings 2025: What the Latest EF EPI Data Means for Travelers

Whether most people speak English depends on which Southeast Asian city you’re in. In the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 2025, Manila (603, Very High Proficiency) and Kuala Lumpur (588, High Proficiency) score highest, so most people in commercial and tourist areas speak functional English. Bangkok (467), Phnom Penh (472), and Yangon (458) are in the Low Proficiency band, where communicating in English outside tourist zones can be difficult.

EF does not include Singapore in the index because it classifies Singapore as a native English-speaking country. English is one of Singapore’s official languages and the main language of education, government, and business.

This guide sets out the 2025 country and city rankings, explains what the scores do and don’t measure, and turns them into practical expectations for travelers.

How Does Each Southeast Asian Country Rank for English in 2025?

The EF EPI 2025 ranks eight Southeast Asian countries. Malaysia places highest in the region. Thailand and Cambodia place lowest.

Malaysia and the Philippines are the only Southeast Asian countries in the High band, and both rank in the top 30 worldwide. The gap to Vietnam, the next country down, is 69 points. There is then a steady decline through the Low and Very Low bands.

Which Southeast Asian Cities Have the Best English?

National scores average out large differences between cities. The EF EPI 2025 city data shows how much capitals and tourism hubs outperform their countries.

Why do city scores matter more than national scores for travelers?

Every ranked city scores higher than its national average. The biggest gaps are in countries with the lowest national scores. Phnom Penh is 82 points above Cambodia’s national score. Bangkok is 65 points above Thailand’s. Jakarta is 52 points above Indonesia’s. So a Very Low national rating does not mean you’ll struggle equally everywhere in that country. It usually means English drops off sharply once you leave the capital or main tourist centres.

The gap is smallest in Malaysia, where Kuala Lumpur is only 7 points above the national score. That points to English being used fairly evenly across the country rather than concentrated in one city.

Why does Pattaya score higher than Bangkok?

Pattaya is a beach resort city built largely around international tourism, and it scores slightly above the capital. This fits a wider pattern in the data. Frequent contact with foreign visitors and international business raises everyday English use, sometimes more than a city’s size or status as a capital.

What Does the EF EPI Actually Measure?

The EF EPI is based on results from adults who take EF’s online English test. Test-takers choose to participate, so the sample leans toward people who are learning or already using English. It is not a census of the whole population. Treat the scores as a reliable way to compare countries and cities, but not as the share of people you’ll meet who speak English.

EF has also revised its methodology and scoring scale over the years. For this reason, proficiency bands such as “High” or “Low” are more useful for comparing across editions than raw scores.

How Has English Proficiency in Southeast Asia Changed Over Time?

Over successive editions of the index, a few consistent patterns stand out:

• Malaysia and the Philippines have remained the region’s two strongest performers. Both have stayed in the upper bands of the global ranking. The 2025 edition places Malaysia first in the region.

• Vietnam has been one of the region’s more notable improvers. It has reached the Moderate band, and Hanoi’s city score of 532 is well above several other Southeast Asian capitals.

• Thailand and Cambodia have remained in the lower bands. Both sit in Very Low in 2025. Their capitals and tourist cities still perform far better than the national figures.

For travelers, this means the broad picture has changed little from year to year. You can plan around the country tiers with reasonable confidence.

Why Is English Stronger in Some Southeast Asian Countries Than Others?

Colonial and historical language policy

The Philippines’ period under American rule and Malaysia’s and Singapore’s British colonial history left English embedded in law, government, and education. Thailand was never colonised and developed its institutions in Thai. Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos were historically influenced by French rather than English.

How schools use English

In the Philippines, English is an official language and a medium of instruction for many subjects. In Malaysia, English is a compulsory school subject and is widely used in higher education and business. Thailand’s school system has historically taught mainly in Thai, with English taught as a foreign language subject.

Tourism and international business

Cities that handle large numbers of foreign visitors and multinational companies develop stronger English environments. This explains why Jakarta, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Pattaya score well above their national averages.

Digital and media exposure

English-language online content, social media, gaming, and entertainment give younger people constant informal practice. This is one reason younger urban residents across the region tend to speak more English than older generations.

What Should Travelers Expect in Each Country?

Singapore: English is an official language and is used almost everywhere, from hawker centres to public transport. Travelers who speak English won’t face a language barrier.

Malaysia: High proficiency. English is widely spoken in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and tourist areas, and signage is often in both Malay and English. In rural areas, Malay dominates, but basic English still usually gets you by.

Philippines: High proficiency. English is an official language and is widely spoken in Manila, Cebu, and most tourist destinations. Menus, signs, and official information are commonly in English.

Vietnam: Moderate. English is improving quickly among younger people in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, particularly in hotels and cafés. It is limited in rural areas and among older residents. Because Vietnamese is tonal, showing a written address works better than saying it.

Indonesia: Low nationally, but moderate in Jakarta’s business districts and in Bali’s tourist zones. Bahasa Indonesia is the everyday language almost everywhere else.

Thailand: Very Low nationally. English is common in Bangkok’s main tourist and commercial areas and in resort cities such as Pattaya, but limited elsewhere. Many signs and menus are only in Thai script, which makes finding your way around harder.

Cambodia: Very Low nationally. You’ll find some English in the tourist areas of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, especially among guesthouse staff and drivers who serve visitors. Elsewhere it is limited.

Myanmar: Very Low nationally. English is spoken mainly by educated professionals in Yangon and by staff at tourist-facing businesses. Outside Yangon it is very limited.

Laos: Low. You’ll find some English in Vientiane and in the tourist zones of Luang Prabang. Elsewhere, expect to rely on gestures and translation apps.

How Can Grab Help With Language Barriers in Lower-Proficiency Cities?

The data shows the language barrier is largest in exactly the situations where travelers most often need to talk to someone: getting a ride, ordering food, and paying. Grab operates in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar, and the Grab app handles much of this without spoken conversation.

• You type or pin your destination in the app, so you don’t have to pronounce a Thai or Khmer street name.

• In-app messaging with your driver lets you sort out pickup details in writing.

• Cashless payment, including GrabPay where available, avoids negotiating prices or counting change in an unfamiliar currency.

• GrabFood menus show photos and descriptions, so you can order from local restaurants without reading the menu board.

These features matter most in the Low and Very Low tiers: Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Yangon, and cities outside the main tourist areas.

Key Takeaways

• The EF EPI 2025 ranks Malaysia (581) and the Philippines (569) as the only High Proficiency countries in Southeast Asia. Thailand (402) and Cambodia (390) rank lowest.

• Manila (603) is the only Southeast Asian city rated Very High. Kuala Lumpur (588) is High.

• Every ranked city scores above its national average. Phnom Penh (+82), Bangkok (+65), and Jakarta (+52) show the largest gaps.

• Singapore is not ranked because EF classifies it as a native English-speaking country.

• EF EPI scores come from voluntary test-takers. Use them to compare places, not to estimate how many people speak English.

• In Low and Very Low proficiency cities, app-based transport, food ordering, and payments reduce how often you need to speak the local language.