The EF English Proficiency Index, released on Tuesday, shows that Netherlands are the best non-native English speakers in the world, followed by those in Denmark and Sweden. Laos, Libya, and Iraq occupy the bottom of the rankings.

Luxembourg is among only seven countries that rank in the “very high” EF EPI Proficiency Band. As well as the top three countries, the other spots are occupied by Norway, Finland and Singapore. The Grand Duchy’s neighbours, Germany, Belgium and France, rank 9th, 11th and 29th respectively--although France is among three countries highlighted in the report as making the most progress in English proficiency, alongside Qatar and Singapore.

 EF Education First is an international education company focusing on language, academics, education travel, and cultural experience. It has also released a report that evaluates English skills in the global workforces, which draws some interesting conclusions--for instance, executives speak less English than the managers below them, probably due to generational differences.

The EF English Proficiency Index report concludes that English proficiency “remains a key indicator of economic competitiveness at both the individual and national levels. Higher English proficiency correlates with higher incomes, better quality of life, greater connectivity, and more dynamic business environments.”