ENGLISH
“Over 1.5 billion people are learning the English language and we now have over 3 times the number of non-native to native speakers.” (Source: The English Effect 2013)
“English speakers: Non-native 78%, Native 22%” (Source: Harvard Business Review May 2012 Issue)
“The British Council supports English learning in over 100 countries around the world.” (Source: British Council Annual Report 2012-13)
“IELTS is the International English Language Testing System with over 2.2 million tests taken a year. It is accepted by more than 9,000 educational institutions, employers, professional associations and governments in 135 countries around the world.” (Source: IELTS Media Centre)
“There are over 20,000 test takers in Japan and the number is on the rise.” (Source: Eiken Foundation of Japan)
“Over 350,000 students in 80 countries learn English with” the British Council. (Source: British Council Annual Report 2012-13)
The “LearnEnglish websites for children, teenagers and adults get over 50 million visits a year.” (Source: British Council Annual Report 2012-13)
ARTS
“The UK-wide London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme was the largest cultural programme of any Olympic and Paralympic Games. Over 177,000 events were held creating over 43 million public experiences in visual arts, theatre, dance, music and literature.” (Source: Arts Council England)
“In 2013, there were 16.8 million inbound visits to London, making it the most popular tourist destination in the world. 8 out of 10 visitors said heritage and culture were the main reasons for their visit.” (Source: Mayor and the Greater London Authority)
“The thriving UK creative economy provides jobs for 2.5 million people.” (Source: A Manifesto for the Creative Economy, NESTO)
“At any given time, 50% of the 9,000 works in the British Council Collection is drawn on for exhibitions across the world.” (Source: Review of the Arts Council Collection, British Council Collection and Government Art Collection, Arts Council England 2012)
“The British Council’s biennial Edinburgh Showcase is the single biggest opportunity for UK performing arts companies to introduce their work internationally. Since the British Council’s first Showcase in 1997, showcases have given over 200 theatre and dance companies the opportunity to tour overseas.” (Source: The Edinburgh Showcase 2013)
EDUCATION
“Approximately 50% of students seeking to learn English abroad choose the UK.” (Source: HM Government: ‘International Education: Global Growth and Prosperity’, July 2013)
“In the world university rankings, 4 of the top 6 are UK institutions.” (Source: QS World University Rankings 2012)
"Its popularity among Japanese students as a short-term study abroad destination is also on the rise. 15% increase from 2011 to 2012." (Source: English UK: 2012 Annual Statistics Report)
“Our education events, including our annual Education UK Exhibitions, were attended by over 4,000 students in FY2013.” (Source: British Council Japan)
“The Education UK website is visited every year by over 2 million students from around the world.” (Source: British Council Annual Report 2012-13)