As a writer who learned English as a second language, I’ve spent a lot of time stressing about "The Anglosphere." You know the feeling: if you aren't selling in the US, the UK, or Canada, you aren't really making it. We agonize over prepositions, stress about phrasal verbs, and worry that our lack of "native flow" holds us back.
But recently, I dove into the EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) 2025 report, and let me tell you—it was a wake-up call. The data suggests that being a non-native writer isn't a handicap; it might actually be a strategic asset in a global economy.
Here is what I found, and why I think it’s time we rethink our maps.
1. The World is Better at Reading Than Speaking
If you take nothing else away from this, take this: In nearly 80% of countries, reading is the strongest English skill.
The report highlights a fascinating gap. While people might struggle to speak English fluently—what the report calls "productive skills"—their ability to understand written text ("receptive skills") is significantly higher. In fact, reading is the easiest skill for school systems to develop and the one people practice most on their own.
What this means for us: There is a massive "Silent Majority" of readers out there. They might not feel comfortable hopping on a Zoom call with a native speaker, but they are perfectly comfortable curling up with a book in English. The barrier to entry for reading your work is much lower than you think.
2. We Write the "Global Standard"
The report talks about English functioning as a "bridge," enabling dialogue between global knowledge and local understanding. It also notes that listening comprehension trails reading scores by over 20 points globally because understanding spoken accents and fast speech is difficult.
Why does this matter? Because native English writers often alienate international readers with complex cultural references, regional slang, or overly flowery prose.
This is where our "non-native" status becomes a superpower. We naturally write what I like to call "International English." We don't use obscure baseball metaphors or regional British slang that confuses a reader in Brazil or Japan. We write cleanly. We write clearly. We are the bridge the report is talking about.
3. Redrawing the Map: It’s Not Just About London
We usually market our books to the obvious suspects. But the 2025 rankings threw up some surprises that we shouldn't ignore.
Did you know that Croatia is ranked #2 in the world for English proficiency? Or that South Africa (#13) and Kenya (#19) are in the "Very High" and "High" proficiency bands?
Here are a few places where English proficiency is skyrocketing, yet most authors ignore them when setting up their ads:
- The Netherlands: Consistently #1. They read English as easily as Dutch.
- Malaysia & The Philippines: Both are in the top 30 globally.
- Portugal: Ranked #6 in the world.
The industries with the highest English levels are Information Technology and Professional Services. These are people hungry for knowledge, self-improvement, and entertainment, and they are consuming it in English.
The Takeaway
The report states clearly: "English remains the world's most common shared language". But that shared language doesn't belong to the US or the UK anymore. It belongs to everyone.
So, the next time you set up a Facebook ad or choose keywords for your book, maybe look beyond the usual borders. There is a whole world of high-proficiency readers out there, and they are waiting for a voice they can understand—yours.
