Japan has hit its lowest ranking yet in global English language abilities, dropping to 92nd place out of 116 countries and regions in the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index.
The East Asian nation scored 454 points out of a possible 800, marking a concerning decline from its 87th position in 2023. This represents a dramatic fall from Japan's initial 14th place ranking when the index began in 2011, albeit with fewer participating countries at that time.
The annual index, which evaluates English skills in non-native English speaking countries, bases its rankings on online test data from over 2 million participants worldwide. Within Japan, Tokyo emerged as the strongest performing city with 496 points, followed by Osaka (488) and Kawasaki (482).
An EF Education First representative in Japan suggested that rather than Japanese English abilities necessarily declining, the country may be failing to keep pace with rising proficiency levels in other nations.
The Netherlands maintained its dominance at the top of the rankings for the sixth consecutive year, though its score of 636 showed an 11-point decrease from 2023. Norway, Singapore, Sweden and Croatia rounded out the top five performing countries.
The findings indicate broader challenges in English education across Asia, with the region showing the steepest decline in English proficiency compared to other global regions over the past year. This trend aligns with a worldwide downturn in English proficiency levels, as 60% of indexed countries recorded lower scores than the previous year.
This latest ranking raises questions about Japan's English language education system and its effectiveness in preparing citizens for an increasingly globalized world. As international business and cultural exchange continue to rely heavily on English communication, Japan's declining position could impact its global competitiveness.
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