English has long become the language of global communication, with 1.5 billion people speaking it worldwide. Of these, 38% speak it as a foreign language.

However, proficiency levels vary: in some countries, you can easily order coffee or conduct business, while in others, you may struggle even in tourist areas. Why does this happen, and where in Europe is English your reliable companion?

In this article, we’ll show you where in Europe you won’t feel a language barrier and where you should prepare for challenges.

Contents:

  1. European Countries with English as an Official Language
  2. Countries Where English Is Widespread
  3. Countries Where English Is Common in Major Cities
  4. European Countries Where English Is Not Widely Spoken
  5. Where Else English Is Spoken

European Countries with English as an Official Language

Despite its widespread use, English holds official status in only a few European countries. These include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus, as well as Crown dependencies such as Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. Here, English is either the native language or the main language of education, business, and daily life.

Malta was once a British colony, and knowledge of English remains high; about 59% of locals speak it. In Cyprus, English has no official status, but in practice, 73% of the population use it, especially in Nicosia, Limassol, and tourist zones. Dependent territories such as Gibraltar (100% English-speaking), Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man are also fully anglophone.

Countries Where English Is Widespread

In some European countries, English as a second language is so widely spoken that the language barrier is virtually nonexistent. These are mostly in Scandinavia and the Benelux region.

The Netherlands leads the way. In Amsterdam and Rotterdam, up to 95% of residents speak English. This is due to early education; English is taught from the first years of school, and the fact that local businesses overwhelmingly use it in daily operations.

Denmark comes next, with about 86% of Danes speaking English. Copenhagen is the most anglicized city, where almost all restaurant menus are written in English by default.

Sweden and Norway follow, with around 89–90% of residents fluent in English and up to 97% in capitals, Oslo and Stockholm. Many Swedish IT companies operate exclusively in English. Finland comes next: while national proficiency is lower, in Helsinki, around 80% of people can easily hold a conversation.

Austria is one of the few Central European countries with consistently high proficiency nationwide. Around 73% of Austrians (especially in Vienna) speak English. The reasons are early instruction from age six, as well as the prevalence of films and series shown without dubbing.

Countries Where English Is Common in Major Cities

In most European countries, English is widespread mainly in capitals and large cities, but less so in rural areas. Belgium is a prime example. Brussels, home to EU and NATO headquarters, has around 80% of residents fluent in English, often used as a mediator language between Flemish and Walloon speakers. But in rural Flanders and Wallonia, proficiency drops to 40%.

Portugal shows a similar pattern: in Lisbon and Porto, about 75% of residents speak English, while in rural Alentejo or on Madeira, it is only 20–30%.

In Croatia, popular with tourists, many locals in Dubrovnik and Zagreb speak English, but in rural Dalmatia, communication is limited. Greece shows the same trend: about 70% of residents in major cities like Athens or on Santorini speak English, but in mountain villages, less than 20% do.

European Countries Where English Is Not Widely Spoken

According to the EF English Proficiency Index, some countries fall into the «low» or «moderate» proficiency categories. The leader of this group is Bulgaria, where only 32% of the population speaks English. In the cities of Sofia and Varna, with developed tourism and IT sectors, the figure is somewhat higher, around 40–50%. But in rural areas, it drops to as low as 10%. Bulgaria is not alone; the top five also include:

  • Italy. In major cities, around 40% of people speak English, with higher rates in tourist areas. However, in southern Calabria or Sicily, only about 15% of residents can communicate in English. The younger generation shows better proficiency, but Italian remains the dominant language.
  • Spain. In Barcelona and Madrid, about 45% of residents speak English. In tourist hotspots like Costa del Sol, the figure rises to 60%. The weakest levels are found in rural Galicia and Andalusia, where only 20% of the population have knowledge of English.
  • Turkey. English proficiency is higher in tourist centers such as Istanbul and Antalya, where every second person can hold a conversation in English. Yet in the country’s remote eastern regions, Turkish dominates almost completely.
  • Hungary. In Budapest, 60% of residents speak English, mostly younger people. Outside large cities, such as in the Alföld region, only 20–25% of the population know the language.
  • Slovakia. In Bratislava, 55% of residents speak English, especially in business and tourism. But in rural areas such as Košice, only 20–25% do.
  • Romania. In Bucharest and Cluj, thanks to a strong IT sector, around 60% of residents speak English. In rural Transylvania, however, fewer than 20% do. Young people are more active in learning the language. Their score is about 55% according to Eurostat, but regional barriers remain strong.

Where Else English Is Spoken

Looking beyond Europe, it is impossible not to note countries like Canada, where English is an official language alongside French, and the United States, where 95% of the population are native speakers. Yet English, whether in its American or British form, can also be found in more distant parts of the world:

  • Singapore lists English as one of its four official languages, and 83% of residents speak it. In this city-state, menus, signs, and guided tours are almost always in English.
  • In South Africa, English is one of 11 official languages, though its use is concentrated mainly in the capital and major cities.
  • Nigeria is Africa’s largest English-speaking country. In Lagos, English is ubiquitous, but in the northern regions, the Hausa language dominates.
  • India presents a more complex case. English is an official language, and in IT hubs like Bangalore, up to 90% of professionals use it daily. However, in rural areas and smaller towns, Hindi dominates, and only around 20% of the population speaks English.
  • Australia and New Zealand are Oceania’s leaders in terms of native English speakers, with 95% proficiency. Here, English holds the status of the main language, differing from the U.S. and U.K. primarily in accent.
  • Other countries. Thanks to American influence, English is widely spoken in Manila, Cebu, and across the Philippines.