English is most spoken natively in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but in terms of proficiency as a second language, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway rank highest, with a large percentage of their populations fluently speaking it, alongside other Northern European nations like Finland and Malta, with Germany also showing high numbers of speakers.
Meet the five countries in Europe where it snows the most
Literacy rate, 2021:
The highest value was in Latvia: 99.89 percent and the lowest value was in Malta: 94.94 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.
Below, we show English proficiency scores by country based on the Education First Standard English Test. The Netherlands had the highest English proficiency score at 636, followed by Norway at 610, both countries where English is widely spoken as a second language and integrated into daily life, education, and media.
The Netherlands
Dutch people often speak English fluently, influenced by strong educational systems and widespread media consumption in English.
Many, many Italians speak at least some English, especially in the larger cities and places frequented by tourists so you probably won't have a problem communicating. However, you will have a much more enjoyable time if you can speak even a little Italian.
Frisian is the closest language to English
The closest language to English is Frisian. This Germanic language is spoken by about 400,000 people in an area historically known as Frisia—now within the modern regions of Netherlands and Germany.
Bulgaria is often cited as the cheapest European country to live in, with low costs for housing, food, and transportation. The cheapest and safest country to live in Europe is often considered to be Portugal.
In a non-European Union context, the term E3 is commonly used to describe the three largest western European economies: France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Yes, €100 a day can be enough in Europe for a budget-conscious traveler, especially if accommodation is already covered or cheap (hostels), but it will be tight in expensive cities like Paris or Zurich, requiring cheap eats (supermarkets, pizzerias) and prioritizing free activities; for a mid-range budget, €100-€150+ is better for more comfort and dining out, while €100 is tight for families or luxury travel.
English is by far the most useful language for traveling in Europe. Of course, knowing each next language helps with edge cases, but for most of the time, you'll get the best results when you speak English. I wouldn't discourage you to learn other languages, though, because it's great thing in general. of course.
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, which took the number 1 spot in our ranking. The city is known for its international culture and is a major economic, social and cultural hub in Europe and around the world.
To date, some of the most popular countries for people who move from the US to Europe are Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Greece. Among the most attractive factors in each of these destinations are relatively affordable living costs, rich cultural experiences, and easy access to public transportation.
For short trips to tourist-heavy areas, a few basic phrases will suffice, and you'll likely find plenty of English speakers to help you along the way. But if you're planning a longer stay, studying abroad, or moving to Italy, learning Italian is essential for daily life and navigating the country's systems.
The average two-bedroom apartment for a couple, in that case, will be just under $1,000. We've analyzed many cities and towns and found that this amount really opens up a lot of unique places with the highest quality of life you can find in Italy. $3,000 per month can be considered a generous budget in Italy.
To ease your mind, Italians are friendly and patient with foreigners. That said, every culture has its way of doing things and knowing a few customs will help you look like you belong rather than just visiting.
Some people believe that RP (Received Pronunciation) is the most standard or general accent in British English. Many EFL (English as a Foreign Language) schools teach it because it is supposed to be the most “polished” pronunciation. It is typically referred to as “Queen's English” or “BBC English”.
1. Chinese — 1.3 Billion Native Speakers. Numbers vary widely — Ethnologue puts the number of native speakers at 1.3 billion native speakers, roughly 900 million of whom speak Mandarin — but there's no doubt it's the most spoken language in the world.
20 Most Fluent English Speaking Countries In The World
Perhaps the two most iconic English varieties in the world are British and American accents. Both of them have a form of “general” accent which is perceived as more educated or correct than the other varieties, as if having an accent-free speech was a sign of social status.
Taking the crown for the most linguistically diverse country is Papua New Guinea. This island nation boasts a staggering 840 languages spoken by its population of approximately 9.4 million.
In 2025, countries like Canada, Hungary, the UAE, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus are recognized as some of the best English-speaking countries to live in, offering strong English access, high safety scores, and clear residency or citizenship pathways.