Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) (rate both) in Tonga
Tonga: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) (rate both) was 99.4% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
99.4%
World rank
8th
of 87 countries
All-time high
99.7%
in 1976
All-time low
91.9%
in 2019
Years of data
7
1976–2023
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Tonga, 1976–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Tonga recorded 99.4% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2023.
The figure is down 0.1% 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, 91.9%, in 2019.
Tonga ranks 8th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) (rate both) in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 99.7% | — |
| 1996 | 99.0% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 99.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 99.4% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 96.8% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 91.9% | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 99.4% | +8.1% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 99.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.5%, 1.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 99.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 97.5%, 1.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 99.0% | 99.0% | 99.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 99.0% | 99.0% | 99.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 96.0% | 91.9% | 99.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 99.4% | 99.4% | 99.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
More education data for Tonga
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,086 (2015)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 20 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1,228 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1,164 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 16,132 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15,644 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1502 units per person (2024)
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 2023, 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 91.9% in 2019.
- How does Tonga rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Tonga ranks 8th out of 87 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release