Reference
·Primary source
EF EPI English Proficiency Index, Thailand global rank
#106 of 116 (2024)
Thailand ranks 106th out of 116 countries on the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) with a score of 415, classified as Very Low Proficiency. In East and Southeast Asia, only Myanmar (93) and Cambodia (111) score lower; the Philippines (22), Malaysia (26), Singapore (3), and Vietnam (63) all rank materially higher. The reading sub-score (416) outperforms speaking (377), listening (385), and writing (363) - consistent with the Thai education system's grammar-translation pedagogy. This structural English gap is the single largest factor keeping Thailand's voice-BPO cost per seat 20-30% above the Philippines and channelling Thai BPO into back-office, Japanese voice, and captive-GBS work rather than English-speaking customer-care contracts.
Figure in context
Thailand ranks 106th out of 116 countries on the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) with a score of 415, classified as Very Low Proficiency. In East and Southeast Asia, only Myanmar (93) and Cambodia (111) score lower; the Philippines (22), Malaysia (26), Singapore (3), and Vietnam (63) all rank materially higher. The reading sub-score (416) outperforms speaking (377), listening (385), and writing (363) - consistent with the Thai education system's grammar-translation pedagogy. This structural English gap is the single largest factor keeping Thailand's voice-BPO cost per seat 20-30% above the Philippines and channelling Thai BPO into back-office, Japanese voice, and captive-GBS work rather than English-speaking customer-care contracts.
Thailand ranks 106th out of 116 countries on the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) with a score of 415, classified as Very Low Proficiency. In East and Southeast Asia, only Myanmar (93) and Cambodia (111) score lower; the Philippines (22), Malaysia (26), Singapore (3), and Vietnam (63) all rank materially higher. The reading sub-score (416) outperforms speaking (377), listening (385), and writing (363) - consistent with the Thai education system's grammar-translation pedagogy. This structural English gap is the single largest factor keeping Thailand's voice-BPO cost per seat 20-30% above the Philippines and channelling Thai BPO into back-office, Japanese voice, and captive-GBS work rather than English-speaking customer-care contracts.
Time scope
EPI 2024 edition
Source basis
Primary source
Interpretation notes
What this tells you
Thailand ranks 106th out of 116 countries on the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) with a score of 415, classified as Very Low Proficiency. In East and Southeast Asia, only Myanmar (93) and Cambodia (111) score lower; the Philippines (22), Malaysia (26), Singapore (3), and Vietnam (63) all rank materially higher. The reading sub-score (416) outperforms speaking (377), listening (385), and writing (363) - consistent with the Thai education system's grammar-translation pedagogy. This structural English gap is the single largest factor keeping Thailand's voice-BPO cost per seat 20-30% above the Philippines and channelling Thai BPO into back-office, Japanese voice, and captive-GBS work rather than English-speaking customer-care contracts.
What not to do with it
Use the linked report for interpretation and keep basis differences explicit.
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Everest Group BPO Talent Pulse, IDC ASEAN BPO Workforce, Industry HR benchmarks
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Personal Data Protection Committee, Big Four advisory benchmarks, Insight Research triangulation
Report context
Atlas actors in this figure's reports
Profiles covered in the report that cite this number.