Brazil has 4th worst English proficiency index

A report from the Education First organization put Brazil in 18th position in a ranking that evaluates adult English proficiency in 21 Latin American countries. Only Ecuador, Mexico and Haiti performed lower than the Brazilian.

The study analyzed data collected between 2014 and 2024, based on tests applied to 2.1 million people around the world. Among the participants, the average age was 26 years. Women represented 54 percent of the total, while men were 46 percent.

The survey classifies countries on five levels of English proficiency: very tall, high, medium, low and very low. No Latin American country has reached the highest level.

In Brazil, Florianópolis had the best result between the capitals, followed by Porto Alegre and Belo Horizonte. Belém, who will host COP30 in November, appeared in 25th place among the Latin American cities evaluated.

In the global ranking, which includes 116 countries, Brazil was in 81st position, being classified as below the international average.

Latin American ranking, proficiency level and position in the global ranking

1. 1. Suriname – High Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 27

   2. Argentina – Level of High Proficiency – Position in the World Ranking: 28

   3. Honduras – average proficiency level – position in the world ranking: 33

   4. Uruguay – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 36

   5. Costa Rica – Average Proficiency Level – World Ranking Position: 41

   6. Paraguay – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 45

   7. Bolivia – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 47

   8. Chile – Average proficiency level – position in the world ranking: 47

   9. Cuba – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 52

   10. Peru – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 53

   11. El Salvador – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 55

   12. Venezuela – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 57

   13. Guatemala – Average Proficiency Level – World Ranking Position: 58

   14. Nicaragua – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 59

   15. Dominican Republic – Average Proficiency Level – Position in the World Ranking: 60

   16. Panama – Low proficiency level – position in the world ranking: 71

   17. Colombia – Low proficiency level – position in the world ranking: 74

   18. Brazil – Low proficiency level – position in the world ranking: 81

   19. Ecuador – Low Proficiency Level – World Ranking Position: 82

   20. Mexico – Low proficiency level – position in the world ranking: 87

   21. Haiti – very low proficiency level – position in the world ranking: 99

Laura Basilio under supervision.