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    Is English widely spoken in Finland?

    What the English index shows and where you may need Finnish.

    Answered at: Checked at:

    Short answer

    EF's English Proficiency Index measures the English skills of adults who take its online test. In the 2026 edition Finland ranked 17th in the world with 586 points, against a global average of 485. In the 2025 edition Finland was 12th with 603 points, and Helsinki scored 628. Reading skills score highest. In 2026 Finland scored 619 in reading but 466 in speaking.

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    Why

    1. EF's 2026 fact sheet gives Finland rank 17 and 586 points.
    2. EF's 2025 fact sheet gave rank 12 and 603 points.
    3. The index is based on people who choose to take EF's test, so it is not a full survey.

    Details

    Official documents and some local services are mainly in Finnish and Swedish, the national languages.

    Tip

    Learning "kiitos" (thank you) and "anteeksi" (excuse me) is appreciated even when people switch to English.

    What may differ

    Skills vary between people and regions. The index is only a rough guide.

    Common misconception

    Finns rarely speak English.

    What actually happens

    Finland is among the top 20 countries in EF's English index.

    People also ask

    • What are the official languages of Finland?
    • Is Finland safe for tourists?
    • Do you tip in Finland?

    Sources

    This answer is for reference only. Opening hours, prices and services change, so check the official sources before you go.

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