The regions speaking the best English in Portugal, in order, are Coimbra, Braga, Azores, Porto, Aveiro, Castelo Branco, Madeira, Faro, and Viseu. In a recent update, Lisbon, previously near the

top of the list, experienced a setback, dropping four positions and losing 18 points. This information stems from the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) report, which analyzes data from over 2.2 million non-native English speakers across 113 countries and regions.

At a city level, Coimbra claims the top spot, followed by Braga (2nd) and Guimarães (3rd). It's a significant feat for the City of Students, marking the first time Lisbon and Porto have not appeared in the top rankings for English proficiency since this study's inception. Porto held the title in 2019, 2020, and 2021, while Braga claimed it in 2022.

Coimbra's English proficiency, at 636 points, rivals some of the best global capitals like Amsterdam (646 points), Vienna (640 points), and Copenhagen (639 points).

Overall, Portugal's English proficiency saw a decline this year, following an 11-point drop last year and an additional seven points this year. However, due to other countries' slips, Portugal climbed one spot in the English proficiency index. Its eighth position globally grants Portugal a status of "High Proficiency," a distinction it first achieved four years ago.

The Netherlands (1st), Singapore (2nd), and Austria (3rd) secure the top three spots globally for English proficiency.

In Southern Europe, the Portuguese outpace - albeit marginally - Greece (12th), Italy and Spain (35th), and France (43rd) in English proficiency.

Kate Bell, the study coordinator, notes that this year's index paints an illusory picture of global stability in English proficiency. She highlights three critical points: the decline in young people's English proficiency (-89 points for 18 to 20-year-olds since 2015), an increase in professional English proficiency during the pandemic (+20 points for adults over 30 between 2020 and 2021), and a widening gender gap, with men's proficiency rising (+14 points) and women's falling (-19 points since 2014). However, this gender gap isn't consistent, with 63 countries achieving gender parity.

In Portugal, similar to Europe, men are enhancing their English proficiency. Since 2019, men have surpassed women, and this disparity has grown. This year, Portuguese women witnessed a drop of 600 points, an occurrence not seen since 2019.

Examining the numbers by age group, Portugal stands out among the youngest population, between 18 and 20 years old. While globally, young people are experiencing some proficiency losses, Portugal shows an improvement in English proficiency within this demographic. However, the worst performers in English proficiency in Portugal remain individuals between 18 and 20 years old and adults over 41, even though they still achieve a "high proficiency" rating. Photo by Thelmadatter, Wikimedia commons.