Pakistan

How many people speak English: 49%

What it's like as an English speaker: Overall, it's easier than you might expect. The national language is still Urdu and its many dialects -- but the official language in Pakistan is English, meaning that government correspondence is increasingly done through English. Pakistan has a small but growing expat community -- mostly Brits, a handful of Americans. They live mainly in Islamabad, the federal capital, but you can find native English speakers in Lahore and even a few in Karachi. Most Urdu-speaking Pakistanis know their way around English, but learning some basic Urdu may help you save money and earn respect in a culture that deeply values its heritage.

What Pakistan has to offer: For Westerners looking for a relatively open, liberal environment, start in Karachi, the coastal cosmopolitan megalopolis. But if you're inclined toward natural beauty, exceptional World Heritage Sites, and adventure, there is no better trip than to go from Islamabad to Gilgit or Skardu via the Karakoram Highway -- one of the world's highest paved international roads, 15,000ft high and aimed straight at China. Trekkers and climbers who catch a wild hair and want the road trip of a lifetime, find a driver or a guide who speaks English but is a native Urdu speaker, as navigating can be tricky, especially through the many security checkpoints. 

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