English has long been a weak point in Spain – but one city stands out for exactly the opposite reason. That is the conclusion of the latest international report by Education First, a leading authority on English proficiency.
In its most recent edition, one city clearly tops the Spanish ranking. What is happening there – and how do the other autonomous communities compare?
Vigo, the city with the best level of English in Spain
Vigo leads the list with 569 points, thanks to its distinctive approach to learning. For years, the city has offered programmes for secondary school students that include multi-week stays in the UK and Ireland. Students live with local families, attend schools in their host country and use English every day.
This method shifts learning away from purely academic study and towards real-life experience – where the language stops being a subject and becomes a tool for communication. This transition, from studying English to relying on it in daily life, is what the Education First report reflects in the city’s score.
Other cities in Spain with a high level of English
After Vigo, A Coruña reinforces Galicia’s English proficiency with 567 points. Barcelona completes the national podium with 566, followed by Valencia with 564. Zaragoza, Granada and Gijón share 562 points.
Madrid ranks eighth with 560 points – below cities such as Valencia and Zaragoza, challenging the idea that English is better learned in larger urban centres.
Further down the list are Oviedo (554), Bilbao (553) and Palma (549), all above the national average. Salamanca and Málaga are tied at 545, followed by Valladolid (543) and Alicante (540), both in line with the Spanish average.
At the other end of the table is Tarragona, with the lowest score (505 points), followed by Murcia and Seville, both on 535.
Spain lags behind other European countries
However, when looking at Spain as a whole, the picture is less encouraging. The country ranks 36th globally, with an average score of 540 points – placing it firmly in the mid-range.
This suggests that, although some cities achieve strong results, the national average still falls short of countries such as Portugal, Germany and Denmark.
It also remains well behind the excellent levels recorded in the Netherlands and Austria – a benchmark that no Spanish city or autonomous community currently reaches.
