Pakistan Ranks Above India in English Proficiency Index
Pakistan has ranked seven places above India in the latest global English Proficiency Index, with Pakistani test takers scoring higher in all four skills measured. The result puts Pakistan at 67th out of 123 countries and regions, while India sits at 74th.
The ranking comes from the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 2025, the latest edition of the world’s largest ranking of adult English skills. Pakistan scored 493 points, above the global average of 488. India scored 484, below that average, after its score fell by six points from the previous year. Pakistan’s score stayed unchanged.
Both countries remain in the index’s “Low Proficiency” band. The gap is real but modest, and it says more about test takers than about whole populations, as explained below.
The numbers behind the ranking
Pakistan led India in every skill the index measures. In speaking, Pakistan scored 517 against India’s 500. In reading, the scores were 512 and 494. In writing, Pakistan scored 515 against India’s 504. In listening, Pakistan scored 470 against India’s 457.
The widest gap is in speaking, at 17 points. That is the skill closest to what people usually mean when they talk about accent, although the index measures proficiency, not accent quality.
Within South Asia, Pakistan also sits ahead of Sri Lanka (486) and Bhutan (473). It trails Nepal (514) and Bangladesh (506). The regional picture therefore shows Pakistan in the middle of its neighbourhood, ahead of its largest rival but behind two smaller neighbours.
Where Pakistan scores highest
The index also breaks Pakistan’s results down by province and city. Punjab leads the provinces with a score of 554, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 501, Sindh at 491 and Balochistan at 489. The spread between the highest and lowest province is wide, which points to uneven access to English teaching across the country.
Among cities, Islamabad tops the list at 529, with Rawalpindi close behind at 524. Lahore scored 498 and Karachi 496, both near the national average. The capital region’s lead fits its concentration of government offices, universities and international organisations, where English is a daily working language.
By profession, Pakistani professionals in IT scored 504 and those in operations scored 515, while customer service workers scored 486. These figures matter because English is a working tool in the sectors where Pakistan competes directly with India for the same clients.
Why the ranking matters for jobs
English remains a key skill for freelancing, call centres, IT exports and work abroad. In each of these fields, clients judge Pakistani and Indian workers side by side, often on the same platforms and in the same hiring rounds. A higher average score does not win a contract on its own, but it supports the case that Pakistani professionals can handle client communication in English.
Efforts to lift skills further are already under way at the professional level. The British Council and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan have partnered to strengthen English proficiency for future chartered accountants. For individuals worried about pronunciation, tools such as Google Translate’s accent practice feature offer a low-cost way to practise.
What the index does and does not prove
An important distinction sits at the heart of this story. The EF EPI measures how well people use English, not how their accent sounds. When an AI chatbot was asked which accent is better, it refused to pick a winner, noting that accents are subjective and that preference depends entirely on the listener.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EF English Proficiency Index?
The EF English Proficiency Index is an annual ranking of adult English skills across countries and regions, produced by EF Education First. The 2025 edition covers 123 countries and regions and is based on 2.2 million test results from 2024.
Where does Pakistan rank?
Pakistan ranks 67th with a score of 493, above the global average of 488. India ranks 74th with 484 points. Both countries are placed in the “Low Proficiency” band.
In which skill is Pakistan furthest ahead of India?
Speaking, where Pakistan scored 517 against India’s 500, a gap of 17 points. Pakistan also leads in reading, writing and listening.
Which province and city score highest in Pakistan?
Punjab leads the provinces with 554 points. Among cities, Islamabad tops the list at 529, followed by Rawalpindi at 524.
Does the ranking prove one accent is better than another?
No. The index measures proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking, not accent quality. Accent preference is subjective, and the index itself makes no claim about which accent sounds better.
