English Proficiency Index: Danes are the best non-native English-speakers

[swl]

France's result is quite poor...is English not part of the school curriculum there?

First modern language (langue vivante) is mandatory from sixieme (~11 years old), second modern language from quatrieme (~13 years old). Parents are free to choose the languages they want their children to learn, but around 90% chose English as the first modern language and almost everyone else as the second language.
In any case, it's two hours a week with 25 pupils per teacher, not enough to become fluent.