Global index reveals English skills in Ukraine

Despite their best efforts, not everyone is a born linguist with the majority of Brits in particular, unable to speak a second language.

Faced with the prospect of a holiday blighted by broken conversation, pointing and blank stares it’s no surprise some travellers would feel more relaxed visiting a country where English is widely-spoken and understood.

If you’d rather leave your phrasebook at home, there are plenty of countries where it is surprisingly easy to strike up a conversation in English.

Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland are among the world’s most proficient English speakers, for instance, according to a ranking of countries by adult English skills, the EF English Proficiency Index.

But beyond Europe, British holidaymakers may be pleasantly surprised to discover that they’ll be understood in destinations as far-flung as Malaysia, India and Argentina.

Tens of thousands of adults from 70 countries worldwide were tested to create the samples for the 2015 study by EF Education First.

MailOnline Travel has rounded up some of the unexpected destinations you’ll find refreshingly easy to visit, without your phrasebook.

Countries with top English language skills: