Balearic Islands fail English: islanders have one of the worst levels in all of Spain

PalmThe Balearic Islands have obtained 534 points in the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 2025, the most comprehensive global ranking of adults' English proficiency, a slight improvement over the previous year (526 points). However, the region remains below the national average (540 points) and occupies one of the lowest positions in the regional ranking. According to the EF-Education First report, compiled using data from 2.2 million adults in 123 countries and regions, Galicia, La Rioja, and Madrid lead the way in English proficiency in Spain, with 563, 560, and 553 points, respectively. Conversely, Andalusia, Murcia, Extremadura, and Castilla-La Mancha registered the worst results, with scores below the national average. Other regions, such as the Valencian Community (537) and the Canary Islands (539), also fall below the average, while the Balearic Islands (534) remain in the middle range, despite the influence of the international tourism sector, especially in Palma. The city achieves 549 points, above the national average, and is among the cities with a medium-high level of English proficiency. Regarding language skills, the report confirms that reading is the main strength of Spanish adults (558 points), followed by listening comprehension (525 points). Written expression is at an intermediate level (506 points), while oral expression remains the weakest skill (462 points), indicating a priority area for improvement in the Balearic Islands and the rest of the country. Globally, the Netherlands maintains its world leadership, followed by Croatia and Austria, while major economies in Asia and Latin America continue to lag behind. Central and Northern Europe show slight progress, and the gender gap in Spain continues to narrow for the second consecutive year, with women and men increasingly close in language proficiency. According to EF, English proficiency goes beyond mere communication: it becomes a key tool for innovation, access to economic opportunities, and international collaboration, especially in a context where artificial intelligence and advanced technologies are largely developed in English.