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🚨 HONG KONG ENGLISH SHOCK: Crashing to 39th Globally – Now WAY Behind Malaysia & Philippines! 📉😱

admin106626
Nov 23, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Nov 24, 2025

For the fourth consecutive year, our city’s English proficiency has dropped. The 2025 EF English Proficiency Index ranks Hong Kong 39th worldwide (score 538, down another 11 points) and stuck in “moderate” territory —


While Side-by-side comparison with our neighbours:

🇲🇾 Malaysia → 24th (581, high proficiency)

🇵🇭 Philippines → 28th (569, high proficiency)

🇭🇰 Hong Kong → 39th (538, moderate proficiency) … left behind


🇳🇱 And topping the global list? The Netherlands with the highest score: 624 (very high proficiency)!


Breakdown by skill (2025 scores)

📖 Reading: 550

✍️ Writing: 527

🎧 Listening: 526

🗣️ Speaking: 494


Every single skill remains in the “moderate” range. If we want to compete regionally again, there is room for significant improvement.


The gap is clear: due to lack of daily usage and interactive practice outside the classroom. It is holding us back from the “high proficiency” level we once took for granted.



This isn’t just a ranking — it’s a red alert for university offers, job interviews, and our city’s global future.🔮

The impact of this deficiency goes beyond academics, affecting university admissions, job prospects, and our city's global standing. Universities and employers value strong communication skills, and a lack of spoken English proficiency can hinder opportunities. As our city aims to be a global hub, effective communication is crucial for collaboration and innovation. Ignoring conversational skill development risks our youth's careers and our community's economic future, demanding urgent educational reform to prioritize real dialogue and practical engagement in spoken English.


Turn it around — starting today:

🎧 10 min daily: BBC Learning English podcasts

🗣️ 5 min daily: Record & replay yourself speaking

🤝 Weekly: Actual conversations (apps or meetups)


Need faster results? Many parents and students are quietly choosing targeted 1-on-1 or group coaching.


A current favourite: Alumni G – alumni-led tutoring focused on real fluency (IGCSE/MYP/PYP/IB) → https://www.alumni-g.com/services

Hong Kong used to set the standard. It is time to take it back.




🔍 Want to learn more?



 
 
 

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