Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Tonga

Tonga: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 99.4% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
99.4%
World rank
6th
of 83 countries
All-time high
99.7%
in 1976
All-time low
98.9%
in 1996
Years of data
5
1976–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Tonga, 1976–2018

0204060801001976199720181976: 99.7 %1996: 98.9 %2006: 99 %2011: 99.4 %2018: 99.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Tonga is 99.4%, measured in 2018.

The figure is up 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Tonga peaked at 99.7% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 98.9%, in 1996.

That places Tonga 6th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 99.7% 99.7% 99.7% 1
1990s 98.9% 98.9% 98.9% 1
2000s 99.0% 99.0% 99.0% 1
2010s 99.4% 99.4% 99.4% 2

Countries ranked near Tonga

  1. 3 Kazakhstan 99.8% compare
  2. 4 Barbados 99.7% compare
  3. 5 Moldova 99.7% compare
  4. 7 Montenegro 99.3% compare
  5. 8 Spain 99.3% compare
  6. 9 Argentina 99.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Tonga

All data for Tonga →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Tonga?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Tonga was 99.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Tonga?
The highest recorded value was 99.7% in 1976.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Tonga?
The lowest recorded value was 98.9% in 1996.
How does Tonga rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Tonga ranks 6th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Tonga?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Tonga data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Tonga. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/tonga/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.