Best English-speaking countries to visit
Published on March 6, 2020 / Updated on January 10, 2024
When it comes to finding countries where people speak English, it’s not that hard. There’s no need to be afraid of potential language barriers when English is the official language of 67 countries, with the USA and the United Kingdom being the largest (no surprise there!). Other than the states and Great Britain, what are the best English speaking countries to visit?
We’ve come up with a few countries for you from around the world, based on their unique cultural and social aspects.
Did you know Guyana is the only country in South America with English as the first language? Known for its British colonial architecture, it borders with Venezuela and Brazil and has a very diverse nation. It also has the cleanest tropical forest in the world, home to some of the world’s largest animals and unique wildlife – what more do you need to go and visit the best English speaking country in South America?!
If you are wanting to be welcomed to a country, there is no better and beautiful place than Iceland. Recognised as one of the world’s friendliest countries, feel at ease when talking to the locals in English during your visit. Almost every Icelander speaks fluent English – it’s their second language after all. Iceland has a unique landscape and lovely people to welcome you, plus tourism has grown its economy so your visit will be much appreciated.
Another small island that thrives in speaking English is Malta. Originally colonised by the British, it is one of the best English speaking countries due to the vast majority of people speaking English fluently; specifically 88% of locals. Malta is known to be very British; the island offers tours for travellers to learn English as well as many English schools. However, Maltese is their official language – one of the non-indo-European languages – learn more by checking out our blog post:
Ranking in as the first country with best English language proficiency by the annual EF English Proficiency Index in 2017, Holland is one of the best English speaking countries to visit. Not only are they the best in English with 93% being able to converse in English, but it’s also the 6th happiest nation in the world, according to UN statistics. Visit the Netherlands to see floriculture, taste brewery beer and adore the innovative artwork.
Moving further afield, Nepal is a popular destination to visit for English speakers because of their openness and offer in meditation and yoga retreats. Half of its population speak English and people are fond of forming friendships with foreigners. Although the cultural difference is striking, the Nepali people are regarded to be some of the nicest people in the world. It is a small country with vast beauty in landscape and in people, where some note it to be the friendliest country in the world.
So there you have our best English speaking countries in the world! If you are now eager to learn English, make sure to read our article about why learning English online is the best idea of the year.
If you’d like to improve your English speaking skills before your next trip, visit the Lingoda website and sign up for your free 7-day trial with our native speaking teachers. Looking to go elsewhere? We also teach Spanish, French and German.
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