While Spain’s average level of English is showing signs of stagnation in international rankings, the region of Cantabria has managed to break away from the national trend. According to the latest EF EPI 2025 report, the region ranks as the sixth autonomous community with the highest level of English proficiency, consolidating an upward trajectory that places it well above the national average.
Cantabria: An “Oasis” on an Uneven Map
This year’s report reveals that, while Spain ranks 36th worldwide with a “moderate” level of proficiency, Cantabria has climbed the rankings to achieve a score of 550 points. This figure not only surpasses the national average of 540 points, but also places Cantabrians in a competitive tier that rivals historically leading regions such as Madrid and the Basque Country.
“Cantabria has maintained remarkable consistency, achieving progress that places it in the ‘Top 6,’ surpassing regions with greater population density and resources,” Education First analysts highlighted.
The Numbers Behind the Success
To understand the significance of these figures, it is necessary to break down the 2025 rankings, where Cantabria stands shoulder to shoulder with the linguistic leaders of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Generational and Gender Gap
The study not only analyzes geography, but also identifies who is driving these results. In Cantabria, as in the rest of Spain, a curious trend can be observed:
The driving force of the 26–30 age group: This demographic achieves the strongest results, driven by the need to remain competitive in an increasingly globalized job market.
Post-pandemic resilience: Unlike young people aged 18 to 25, who are still struggling to recover pre-2020 levels, Cantabria’s professional workforce has maintained its investment in education and training.
Specific skills: Cantabria stands out particularly in reading comprehension, where the regional score approaches 558 points, while written expression remains the Achilles’ heel at 506 points.
Why Cantabria?
Experts point to the integration of bilingual education programs in public schools and the growing internationalization of the region’s service sector as key factors behind this success. With a score that, if Cantabria were an independent country, would place it among the world’s top 25 nations — ahead of countries such as Slovakia — the autonomous community demonstrates that size is no obstacle to linguistic excellence.
However, challenges remain. Despite Cantabria’s success, the report warns that Spain still lags behind Europe’s leading countries, such as the Netherlands (624 points) and Austria (616). Cantabria may be setting the example, but the rest of the country still has unfinished business with the language of Shakespeare.
