Jakarta Leads English Proficiency in Indonesia 2025
Entering 2026, Indonesia showcases a significant improvement in its population’s English proficiency. As an international language, English remains a crucial factor in a city’s global competitiveness. According to the latest data, Jakarta firmly establishes itself as the leading city in English proficiency within the country. With an impressive score of 523, Jakarta not only leads nationally but also surpasses the global average of 488. This achievement places the capital in the ‘moderate’ category, indicating the residents’ readiness for more complex international communication and competition in the global labor market. However, even with Jakarta’s leading position, the 2025 data reveals surprising results. It turns out that the quality of education and language proficiency do not always correspond with city size. Following Jakarta is Surabaya with 519 points, and in third place is Surakarta with 516 points. The inclusion of Surakarta in the top three shows that quieter cities can boast high-quality human resources in foreign language literacy. Closing the top five are Bandung and Salatiga with scores of 505 and 504 respectively, reinforcing that quality English education is now more widely accessible and not limited to megacities. Overall, Indonesia is demonstrating a significant transition from basic functional knowledge of English to a more professional level to enhance global competitiveness. This result is undoubtedly a source of pride, showing that Indonesians increasingly recognize the importance of English for career advancement and broadening horizons. The ‘moderate’ level achieved by the cities provides a strong foundation for local professionals to adapt in multinational companies and when collaborating with foreign partners. Beyond mere statistical figures, these numbers reflect the growing eagerness within Indonesian society to learn. Surpassing the global average, Indonesia is gradually establishing its authority on the international communication map. According to English First (EF), English proficiency levels were assessed based on tests from over 2.2 million participants in 123 countries in 2024. These tests were capable of determining the English Proficiency Index, or EPI, which has become another significant indicator of the development of Indonesian society.
