FACT CHECK
“The Philippines is the best English-speaking country in Asia.”
YES & NO
Filipinos score 569 against a world average of 488 — strong. But Malaysia scores higher (581).
EF English Proficiency Index score (world average 488)
The Philippines ranks 28th of the countries in the EF English Proficiency Index with a score of 569, comfortably inside the 'high proficiency' range and well above the 488 global average.
But 'best in Asia' doesn't hold: Malaysia ranks 24th on 581, ahead of the Philippines. The rest of ASEAN is far back — Vietnam 500 (64th), Indonesia 471 (80th), Thailand 402 (116th).
One caveat on the table: the EF index measures English as a foreign/second language and does not publish a score for Singapore, so Singapore is absent rather than behind.
The Philippine score also slipped 1 point from the previous edition — strong, but not improving.
Source: EF English Proficiency Index · latest EF EPI edition
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