Uzbekistan was ranked 93rd out of 113 countries in English language proficiency, ahead of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, but lags behind Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to the English Proficiency Index 2023 prepared by Sweden-based international education company Education First widely cited by BBC, CNN and Forbes.
Uzbekistan scored 442 and was listed in the "Very Low Proficiency" band this year, while it was also listed in the same band last year.
The index places the surveyed countries and territories into five proficiency bands, from very high to very low.
Uzbekistan ranked 19th place in Asia in the 2023 index among 23 countries assessed.
The index ranked six South Asian countries where India still has the highest level of English proficiency in the region.
The Netherlands topped the index globally with a very high English proficiency score of 647, followed by Singapore, Austria, Denmark and Norway.
With a very low proficiency score of 385, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, placed at the bottom of the index followed by Tajikistan, Libya Yemen, and Rwanda.
The score is based on test data of a survey of over two million adults globally who participated in the EF Standard English Test (EF SET) or English placement tests in 2022.
The report stated, English skills can be a driver for inclusion for adults, enabling participation in professional development and leveling the playing field for those who come from different circumstances and backgrounds. It allows for international talent management and progression at an advanced level.
