Meet David De’ Ath, founder, editor, and writer at Wonderful World English. With his extensive background as an English teacher, David provides valuable insights and practical tips on ESL for students and teachers alike.
English is the most widely spoken language in the world and is the official language of several Western countries.
The level of global influence that English has had is second to none and continues to grow year-on-year.
Many countries understand that English proficiency goes hand in hand with economic growth.
As well as many Western countries, there are also lots of other countries that share English as an official language.
Including in Asia!
There are five Asian countries where English holds official language status: India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia. There are also multiple Asian nations where English speakers can often be found, including Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
I have been living and working in Asia for several years, and I’ve experienced varied levels of English proficiency among different nationals from around the continent.
I aim to shed some light on the English language within Asia in this guide for you today.
We will examine the Asian countries that speak English and how the language is used on the world’s largest continent.
Let’s explore!
What Asian Countries Speak English?
English is considered the world’s “lingua franca,” which means it is the most commonly used language among non-native speakers.
The rise of English as a global language is largely due to the political and economic dominance of the United States and the United Kingdom over the past few centuries.
Several major factors influenced the emergence of English as a linguistic powerhouse, including colonization, trade, mass media, tourism, and education.
Much of the world has in some way been influenced by English, and Asia is no exception.
From tropical islanders to big-city dwellers, tens of millions of people around Asia can effectively communicate in English.
While English is not the primary language in most Asian countries, it has become very important in various business, education, and entertainment fields.
Now we understand more about why English emerged as such a dominant language, let’s look at the five Asian countries that hold English as an official language:
1. India
India is set to take over China as the world’s most populous nation, with over 1.4 billion people!
It is also the second-largest English-speaking population in the entire world, with the United States being first.
English is widely used in India’s education system, business, and government institutions.
According to World Atlas, over 125 million people in India speak English!
It is mostly spoken among the more educated populations, with the poorest in the country not having access to the proper education to learn English.
English is actually considered to be the language used most often by the elite of India, with most English speakers coming from urban areas and only 2% coming from the lower class. Most often connected to education, a third of India’s graduates are able to speak English fluently.
Polygotgeek.com
English in India began in 1600 when Queen Elizabeth I set up trading ports for the East India Company.
From there, English started to overtake Persian as India’s lingua franca.
Following this, between the mid-19th century and the mid-20th century, many Indians were hired to work in British civil services, which only accelerated India’s general English proficiency.
When India became independent in 1947, English was considered the best option for the country’s lingua franca.
Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India and is spoken by over half a billion people!
Have you ever wondered how difficult this language is for English speakers?
Find out in the article below!
Related Article: Is Hindi Hard to Learn for English Speakers? – Answered
2. Pakistan
English is one of the two official languages of Pakistan, alongside Urdu.
Over a hundred million people living in Pakistan can speak English.
You may be surprised to know that this makes Pakistan the third-largest English-speaking population in the world!
Much like in India, English is widely used in Pakistan’s education system, by the government, and in business.
About 27% of the Pakistani population speaks English as a first language while 58% speak English as a second language. The Pakistani government uses policies that were set by the British of making English a language of the elite.
WorldAtlas.com
And just like its Indian neighbor, English was established as an official language in Pakistan when they became independent in 1947.
3. The Philippines
With over 60 million people able to speak it, English is also the official language of the Philippines!
According to the 2000 census, six out of ten persons aged five years and over can speak English in this Southeast Asian country.
It is the language of instruction in many schools and is used extensively by the government and businesses.
The dominance of the English language in the Philippines can also be traced back to its colonial roots.
English was introduced into the Philippines during the US colonial occupation and civil regime in the early 1900s and has now become the second official language. In fact, Tagalog and English compete in the various domains of Filipino society such as business, government, broadcast media, publications, and education.
Stanford.edu
It is important to note that while English is widely spoken in the Philippines, it is not the first language of most Filipinos, and many different varieties of English are spoken in the country.
The use of English has been a source of controversy in the Philippines.
Some argue that it has led to the neglect of Filipino as a national language and the marginalization of non-English speakers.
Despite this, English is still widely used and won’t be going anywhere soon.
4. Singapore
English is one of the four official languages of Singapore, along with Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil.
Singapore has a highly educated and bilingual population, with most Singaporeans being fluent in English and at least one other official language.
Singapore is the lowest population of any Asian country with English as an official language, but over 95% of the country speaks it (that’s just under 4 million English speakers!).
This makes Singapore the most English-proficient country in Asia.
Due to British colonialism, Singapore owns English as its most commonly used language.
The legacy of British colonialism has cemented English as the most commonly spoken language in Singapore’s urban hub, serving as a lingua franca for the country’s ethnically diverse population (and the main language used in business).
Babbel.com
In business and in schools and the government in Singapore, English is the language of instruction.
The Singaporean government has greatly emphasized promoting English in this small island nation.
This is because an English-proficient population is seen as a key factor in maintaining Singapore’s position as a global business hub.
5. Malaysia
English is also one of the four official languages in Malaysia (alongside Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil).
According to the EF English Proficiency Index, Malaysia is Asia’s third most English-proficient country.
There are over 15 million English speakers in Malaysia, and it is widely used within education, business, and government.
And how did Malaysia gain English as an official language?
Yeah, you guessed it! – The British!
The use of English in present day Malaysia traces its beginnings back to the British presence in the Straits Settlements of Penang, Singapore, and Melaka from the 18th century. English was used in public administration, the law courts, and business.
Oxford English Dictionary
Although English is not as widespread in Malaysia as the other countries on this list, it is still firmly embedded into the country’s fabric.
It’s worth noting that the countries above may have many people who can speak English, but many different forms of English come with their own twists on the language.
We can call them mixed versions or hybrids of English.
For example, a Pakistani English speaker will have an entirely different accent and use different terms than one from the Philippines.
However, they are still likely to be able to communicate effectively because of their prior English education.
Mandarin proficiency is also continuing to grow in Asia.
Have you ever thought about learning this as a second language and wondered how hard it is for an English speaker to do it?
Well, you’re in luck!
Find out all about learning Mandarin as an English speaker from someone who has been there and done it in the article below!
Related Article: Is Mandarin Hard to Learn for English Speakers? – The Truth
Apart from the nations where English is an official language, there are several other Asian countries where English speakers can often be found.
The most notable of which include:
6. Hong Kong
Hong Kong was a British colony from 1842 until 1997 when it was handed over from British to Chinese rule.
Despite Hong Kong being a former British colony, the importance of English has been declining since the handover, while Mandarin has taken top priority.
Estimates suggest that between 46-53% of people in Hong Kong are able to speak English. Mandarin is the other official language, with around half the population speaking that as well, whilst Cantonese is the most widespread language with almost the entire population speaking it.
Howwidelyspoken.com
English is widely spoken in touristy areas of Hong Kong and is commonly used within business.
But if you were to go outside of tourist hotspots, to small restaurants, or try to speak to taxi drivers, you would be unlikely to find many who can converse in English.
7. Japan
Japan is another major Asian country where English speakers can be found.
English is a mandatory subject in Japanese schools from elementary school to high school, and many universities offer English-taught courses.
Despite their emphasis on English education, many Japanese are not confident in their ability to speak English.
The prevalence of English speakers in Japan is actually very low, with less than 30% able to speak English, and less than 10% able to speak it fluently. This is despite English being very widely taught in schools for many years.
Howwidelyspoken.com
Their lack of confidence in their ability to speak English may be due to Japan’s focus on written rather than spoken English in schools.
Visitors to Japan may be able to find locals who can say a few words in English, but the chances of finding fluent English speakers are quite low.
Despite this, many of the tourist areas of Japan still have signs that include both English and Japanese.
8. South Korea
Another well-known Asian country where English can be found but isn’t heavily spoken is South Korea.
Although English is a popular language for South Koreans to study, the country does not have a very high level of English proficiency.
It is taught in schools but less prioritized than in other countries.
There are many who learn English for specific purposes, such as for business, trade, academics etc., but very few interact with native speakers, and amongst themselves they prefer to use a uniquely South Korean variety of English that is reinforced by the local media.
Language, Culture, and Pedagogy: An Overview of English in South Korea
Despite this, with some luck, there is still a chance that an English-speaking visitor to South Korea will find someone who speaks English (if only a little).
9. Thailand
Thailand is a tourist hot spot and no stranger to English-speaking visitors.
According to Wikipedia, 27% of Thailand’s population can speak English.
I think that this is a very generous statistic.
I have traveled around Thailand and can safely say that fluent English speakers are largely few and far between.
As a general rule, English is not very widely spoken in Thailand, with only around 27% of the population speaking English and many of these only to a very basic degree. Fluent English speakers are actually quite rare in Thailand among the general population so it is not a good idea to rely on English alone in daily life there.
Howwidelyspoken.com
Sure, the tourist areas have people who can say a few words and sentences related to their business, for example, but cannot converse in English.
That being said, Thailand is a fun and beautiful country to visit!
If you’re curious about what it takes to teach English in Thailand, check out the article below!
Related Article: How to Teach English in Thailand – All You Need to Know
10. Vietnam
English is becoming increasingly important in Vietnam, particularly in urban areas.
Vietnam’s English proficiency is increasing faster than in other Asian countries, and this is helped by it being compulsory to study in Vietnamese schools.
As of 2021, English was by far the leading second language to learn for Vietnamese people, coming in at a whopping 86%! (Statista.com)
There are many reasons why more and more Vietnamese are learning English. For many people, it is a valuable asset in the job market. English is also the language of the internet and many popular international brands. In addition, as Vietnam becomes more open to the world, there is a growing need for English in order to communicate with foreigners.
Englishraven.com
Vietnam is just one of several countries where knowing English is an advantage.
China has also made considerable effort in recent years to build the nation’s general English proficiency.
More and more Chinese nationals than ever can now speak English, although they are still the vast minority.
With this prioritization of learning English, the demand for English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers has also grown.
If you’re considering a career in teaching ESL or want to know more about it, click the link below!
Related Article: Why Become an ESL Teacher? – Teacher’s Top Reasons
English Proficiency in Asia
So, now you know that the level of English Proficiency within Asia greatly varies, with some countries having it as an official language and others that haven’t even been mentioned yet, hardly being proficient at all!
Several major factors influence the level of English proficiency in Asian countries.
The three most impactful are:
1. Historical Influences
As we covered several times in this article, many countries in Asia were once colonies of European powers.
The British Empire once spanned the face of the Earth, and much of Asia was in some way affected by it.
With its dominant positions in India and China, Britain would spend much of the 19th Century extending its economic and political powers to defend these interests, trade routes or fill the spaces in between.
Britishempire.co.uk
This colonization massively contributed to the spread of English in these countries.
And so, it is understandable why ex-colonies tend to have much higher English proficiency levels than countries not colonized by the British or Americans.
Africa is also heavily influenced by English.
Click the guide below to find out more!
Related Article: African Countries Speaking English (Top 10) – Full Guide
2. Education System
The education system also plays a massive role in promoting English proficiency in Asian countries.
If a country prioritizes English in schools, the level of English proficiency will be bound to rise in that area.
And with better infrastructure and resources, the rate at which English can be taught can also grow more rapidly.
I live and teach in China and can see the demand to learn English here.
Even though many older populations cannot speak English, it is mandatory within the education system.
The younger generation is already much more proficient in English than their elders, and this trend will only continue if China remains focused on its people knowing English.
Many ex-pats living in Asia are English teachers, and as we’ve learned, most people cannot speak English on the continent.
If you’re interested in Asia, how about trying to learn an Asian language?
Find out which ones are the easiest to learn for English speakers in the guide below!
Related Article: What is the Easiest Asian Language to Learn? (Top 12)
3. Economic Development
Economic development is another important factor that influences English proficiency levels in Asia.
English is considered the language of international business and trade.
So, as countries become more developed and their economies continue to grow, the demand for English-speaking employees will also increase.
People of non-English-speaking countries have learned from personal experience that higher English proficiency leads to higher employability and salaries.
Sciencedirect.com
This aspect has increased the emphasis on English learning in many countries worldwide.
Asia has some of the cheapest English-speaking countries in the world.
Find out more below!
Related Article: Cheapest English-Speaking Countries to Live in (Top 6)
Conclusion
So, as the world becomes more interconnected, the emphasis on learning English is also growing in many countries globally.
Asian countries are no exception!
The growing importance of English around the continent is a testament to the language’s global significance.
English is seen as an essential tool for success in many areas, namely business and education, and great emphasis is put on learning it, especially for young learners.
Because of this, a lot of infrastructure has been put in place for people to study English as a second language.
And with this yearning to learn the language, its importance will likely continue to grow in the coming years.
We hope this has helped you better understand the relationship between English and Asian countries!
Image Attribution: All images licensed via canva.com
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