Tonga Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Tonga's literacy rate was 91.05% in 2019, ranked 33rd globally. This represents a 6.3% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1976–2019.
Overview
Tonga's literacy rate stood at 91.05% in 2019, a decline of +6.10pp from 2016. Tonga ranked 33rd globally.
Tonga’s literacy rate has fallen from its all‑time peak of 99.59 % in 1976 to 91.05 % in 2019, placing the nation 33rd globally according to the World Bank. This decline of more than eight percentage points over 43 years represents the lowest recorded level for the country and marks a reversal of the gains achieved during the post‑independence expansion of primary education. By contrast, regional peer Thailand records a slightly higher rate of 91.27 % in the same year, while Lebanon stands at 92.01 %, suggesting that Tonga’s recent performance lags behind comparable small‑state peers. The downward trajectory coincides with limited secondary‑school capacity and out‑migration of educated youth, factors that have constrained domestic human‑capital accumulation. Continued investment in teacher training, curriculum modernization and distance‑learning infrastructure could stabilize the decline and potentially restore the upward momentum observed in the 1970s.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 91.05% | −6.10pp | #33 |
| 2016 | 97.15% | −2.24pp | #10 |
| 2011 | 99.39% | +0.37pp | #6 |
| 2006 | 99.02% | +0.11pp | #1 |
| 1996 | 98.91% | −0.68pp | #1 |
| 1976 | 99.59% | – | #1 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Tonga matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Tonga's literacy rate was 91.05% in 2019. Ranked 33rd globally. This represents a 6.3% decrease from the previous year.
Tonga's literacy rate peaked at 99.59% in 1976.
The lowest literacy rate in Tonga was 91.05% in 2019.
Tonga ranks 33rd globally in literacy rate as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The literacy rate of Tonga in 2019 was 91.05%. This ranks 33rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_tonga_literacy-rate,
title = {Tonga Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/tonga/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}