Pakistanis have ranked higher than Indians in the latest global English Proficiency Index. The EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 2025 places Pakistan seven positions ahead of India.
Pakistan secured 67th place among 123 countries and regions. It received a score of 493 points. India ranked 74th with 484 points.
Pakistan’s score is also above the global average of 488. India’s score remains below the global average. However, both countries fall under the “Low Proficiency” category.
Grok Comments on Pakistani and Indian English Accents
The rankings have also sparked discussions about English accents in Pakistan and India. Some users asked Grok why Pakistani English accents sound better than Indian ones.
However, Grok avoided declaring one accent superior to the other. It explained that accents are subjective and cannot be ranked by quality.
Grok noted that Pakistani English often carries Urdu’s rising and falling intonation. It also includes some sound characteristics influenced by Persian and Arabic.
Indian English, meanwhile, varies considerably across different regions. This variation reflects the influence of hundreds of regional languages. Grok also described Indian English as having stronger syllable timing.
It concluded that accent preferences depend on individual listeners. Therefore, the index does not establish which country’s accent sounds better.
Pakistan Leads India Across All Four English Skills
The EF EPI 2025 results show Pakistan scoring higher than India in every measured skill.
The country received 517 points in speaking, compared with India’s 500. In reading, Pakistan scored 512, while India received 494.
Pakistan also performed better in writing, securing 515 points. India’s writing score stood at 504.
In listening, Pakistan received 470 points against India’s 457. Speaking recorded the largest difference, with a 17-point gap.
However, these results measure English proficiency rather than accent quality. They indicate how well participants use English across different skills.
English Proficiency Across Pakistan
The report also highlights differences in English proficiency across Pakistani provinces and cities.
Punjab recorded the highest provincial score of 554. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed with 501 points.
Sindh received 491 points, while Balochistan recorded 489. Among cities, Islamabad led with 529 points.
Rawalpindi followed closely with 524 points. Lahore scored 498, while Karachi received 496 points.
The index also reported differences across professional fields. IT professionals scored 504 points, while operations workers received 515. Customer service workers recorded 486 points.
How the EF English Proficiency Index Works
The EF EPI 2025 uses test results from approximately 2.2 million adults. These participants took the free EF Standard English Test during 2024.
This edition included speaking and writing assessments for the first time. However, these sections were optional for participants.
Most test takers were assessed through reading and listening. The test is voluntary and conducted online.
Therefore, its results represent people who chose to participate. They do not necessarily reflect the English skills of entire national populations.
Overall, Pakistan’s higher ranking shows stronger average test performance than India. However, both countries remain in the low-proficiency category.
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For Pakistanis, improving English skills could support opportunities in freelancing, IT, customer service, and international employment.
