Research: 9 out of 10 Czechs speak a foreign language

12 Feb. 2009 | CzechInvest | Slovak and English are most prominant; German declining.

87.7% of Czech citizens are proficient in at least one foreign language
Czechs most often speak two foreign languages; 28.4% claim knowledge of exactly two languages
Czechs mostly speak Slovak (72.2%), English (61.3%), German (48.4%) or Russian (42.6%)
Only 6.4% of Czechs aged 18-29 do not speak any foreign language, 18.6% in the 50-59 age group
Knowledge of English is growing most rapidly, i.e. by 15% over the past six years

Nine out of ten Czechs aged 18 to 59 speak at least one foreign language, and their knowledge is rapidly improving, according to a survey of 2,388 people conducted by AUGUR Consulting for CzechInvest at the end of last year. The survey shows a 13% increase in language skills in comparison with the results of similar research conducted six years ago.

“The ability of Czechs to communicate in a foreign language is understandably a key factor for foreign investors. Information pertaining to language skills is among the most common requests that we receive from those interested in investing in the Czech Republic, whether and to what extent employees can understand foreign managers responsible for the preparation, implementation and subsequent operation of projects,” says Alexandra Rudyšarová, CEO of CzechInvest.

A total of 16.6% of those surveyed claimed knowledge of one foreign language (14% in 2002), 28.4% are proficient in two foreign language (28% in 2002), 24.7% speak three foreign languages (21% in 2002) and 18% of Czechs (compared with 11% six years ago) have knowledge of more than three foreign languages. Respondents stated that they know languages at least well enough to read and understand a simple text.

Across all age groups, most people claimed to have knowledge of exactly two foreign languages. The greatest differences were in the number of those who are not proficient in any foreign language. Whereas the average value in the whole sample was 12.3%, this figure was 6.4% among respondents aged 18-29 and 18.6% in the 50-59 age group.

In comparison with 2002, knowledge of English increased significantly from 46.2% to 61.3%. Conversely, and somewhat surprisingly, knowledge of German declined from 52.5% to 48.4%.

The survey confirmed that Czechs are most commonly proficient in Slovak (72.2% of respondents), English (61.3%), German (48.4%) and Russian (42.6%). Between 3% and 10% of people are proficient in French, Polish, Italian, Hungarian, Spanish and Nordic languages. Less than 3% of those surveyed claimed knowledge of other languages.

A regional comparison provided interesting results. Whereas knowledge of English is highest among inhabitants of Prague (81.9%) and the Pardubice, Hradec Králové and South Moravia regions (over 70% in all three regions), in the case of German the Karlovy Vary region leads (with 67%), followed by the Vysočina and South Moravia regions (both with slightly under 60%) and the South Bohemia and Zlín regions (both over 50%).

Russian is spoken by more than 40% of inhabitants in twelve Czech Regions, led by Karlovy Vary (nearly 50%), Vysočina (also nearly 50%) and South Moravia (under 48%). Knowledge of French is most common among inhabitants of the Hradec Králové region (24%), followed by Prague (15.8%) and the Zlín region (14.6%). As expected, proficiency in Polish is most common in Moravia-Silesia (48.4%), distantly followed by the Hradec Králové region (15.9%).

Czechs most commonly speak Slovak and English fluently, with 16.2% of the population possessing the highest level of skill in Slovak and 16.1% in English. Those aged 18-29 have significantly better knowledge of English and German, whereas those in the 50-59 age group most commonly claim fluency or proficiency in Russian.

Every fifth Czech who speaks a foreign language uses it in his or her work. Otherwise, Czechs learn foreign languages mainly for use while on vacation abroad. This is the primary motivation for 57.9 of Czech people. One-third of Czechs claim that they want to begin learning another language within two years.

Knowledge of foreign languages