Education First (EF), an international education company that specializes in language training, recently issued its English Proficiency Index (EPI) report for the year 2025 in which it ranked 123 countries and regions across the world according to their population’s English proficiency skills. The report looks at how and where English proficiency is developing worldwide. In details, the report noted that the English language is still the most common language of information exchange, rendering it as such vital to accessing knowledge and expertise, explaining the strong correlation between the English language and several measures of innovation and competitiveness. According to the report, the demand for English courses and language acquisition programs has not waned, and neither has investment by companies or governments in developing English skills, yet progress has stalled. The report noted in this respect that the last global gains observed in English proficiency took place back in 2020. As far as the methodology is concerned, EF analyzed the test results of more than 2.2 million adults who took English tests in the year 2024, 54% of whom were females and 46% were males. Accordingly, countries were classified under five proficiency bands namely, the Very High Proficiency Band (score between 600 and 800), the High Proficiency Band (score between 550 and 599), the Moderate Proficiency Band (score between 500 and 549), the Low Proficiency Band (score between 450 and 499) and the Very Low Proficiency Band (score between 1 and 449). On the results front, EF noted that individuals aged between 18 and 20 have shown a severe deterioration in their English proficiency levels, while those aged between 31 and 40 have showcased the largest improvement. In addition, the report stated that between the years 2014 and 2025, English proficiency for women has dropped by 17 points, while that for men has increased by 3 points, noting that men’s English proficiency levels have improved more than that of women across all regions. Always according to the report, Europe maintained pole position with a score of 550, followed by Africa (492), Latin America (489), Asia (477) and the Middle East (449), with the global average standing at 488. On an international level, the Netherlands maintained its leading position for the seventh consecutive year with a score of 624, followed by Croatia (score of 617) and Austria (score of 616), noting that all three countries fell under the “Very High Proficiency” category. On a regional level, the report unveiled that the average level of English proficiency in the Middle East region has been improving slowly over the past decade except for the year 2025. When it comes to results, Iran came first in the Middle East region and 68^th in the world in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, falling under the “Low English Proficiency” category with a score of 492. Iran was followed by the United Arab Emirates (72^nd international rank with a score of 487), Lebanon (78^th international rank with a score of 477), Qatar (81^st international rank with a score of 469) and Palestine (87^th international rank with a score of 463), among others, all of which were categorized under the “Low Proficiency Band”. On the bottom end of the scale came each of Iraq (113^th international rank & 10^th regional rank with a score of 406), Saudi Arabia (115^th international rank & 11^th regional rank with a score of 404) and Yemen (116^th international rank & 12^th regional rank with a score of 402), each of which falling under the “Very Low Proficiency” band. Concerning Lebanon, and as far as regions are concerned, the Mount Lebanon region was the only region in the country enjoying a “moderate” proficiency level (score: 536) and was followed by Baalbek-Hermel (“low” proficiency level, score: 460), Bekaa (“low” proficiency level, score: 453), and Akkar (“very low” proficiency level, score: 364). As far as cities are concerned, Beirut emerged as the only city with a “moderate” level of English proficiency (score: 523) and was trailed by Sidon (“low” proficiency level, score: 458), Zahle (“low” proficiency level, score: 450), and Akkar (“very low” proficiency level, score: 389). The report also mentioned that Lebanese aged between 26 and 30 enjoyed the highest English proficiency score of 522, while those aged between 18 and 20 had the lowest average score of 443. Furthermore, the report revealed that in terms of English skills, the average reading score of the surveyed Lebanese population was 496 in the 2025 EPI, 450 for the listening part, 468 in the writing criterion, and 454 in the speaking skill.