Countries Ranked by Literacy rate in 1990
Literacy rate for each country in 1990, ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
In 1990, Guam ranks #1 with 99.4% of people 15+. Trinidad and Tobago is second with 96.9% of people 15+, 2.5% behind. The top five are Guam, Trinidad and Tobago, Maldives, Philippines and Venezuela, RB. The median across all 17 is 88.3% of people 15+; Burundi is last at 37.4% of people 15+.
- #1
- Guam · 99.4% of people 15+
- Median
- 88.3% of people 15+
- Coverage
- 17 countries
- Data year
- 1990
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Literacy rate (% of people 15+) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guam | 99.4 |
| 2 | Trinidad and Tobago | 96.9 |
| 3 | Maldives | 96 |
| 4 | Philippines | 93.6 |
| 5 | Venezuela, RB | 89.8 |
| 6 | Puerto Rico (US) | 89.6 |
| 7 | Singapore | 89.1 |
| 8 | Panama | 88.8 |
| 9 | Ecuador | 88.3 |
| 10 | Mexico | 87.6 |
| 11 | Indonesia | 81.5 |
| 12 | Mauritius | 79.9 |
| 13 | Türkiye | 79.2 |
| 14 | China | 77.8 |
| 15 | Zambia | 65 |
| 16 | Cabo Verde | 62.8 |
| 17 | Burundi | 37.4 |
About the top 10
#1 Guam
Guam ranks #1 on this list with 99.4% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Hagåtña
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 169,000 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$6.91 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$41,833 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 77.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in voice and accountability score · #16 in nurses and midwives per 1,000 · #16 in diabetes prevalence.
#2 Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago ranks #2 on this list with 96.9% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Port of Spain
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 1.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$25.94 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$18,967 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 54% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in energy use per capita · #6 in co2 emissions per capita · #8 in homicide rate.
#3 Maldives
Maldives ranks #3 on this list with 96% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Malé
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 529,680 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$7.74 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$14,615 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 42.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in male population share · #5 in population ages 15-64 share · #8 in population density.
#4 Philippines
Philippines ranks #4 on this list with 93.6% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Manila
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 116.79 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$487.09 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,171 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 55.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Metro Manila, Quezon City, Manila.
Also ranks #4 in remittances received · #4 in low-birthweight babies share · #7 in annual freshwater withdrawals.
#5 Venezuela, RB
Venezuela, RB ranks #5 on this list with 89.8% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Caracas
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 28.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.66 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,495 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia.
Also ranks #1 in time to start a business (days) · #3 in protected terrestrial area share · #11 in refugee population by origin.
#6 Puerto Rico (US)
Puerto Rico (US) ranks #6 on this list with 89.6% of people 15+.
- Capital
- San Juan
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 3.18 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$129.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$40,620 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in manufacturing value added share of gdp · #3 in population ages 65+ share · #4 in age dependency ratio (old).
#7 Singapore
Singapore ranks #7 on this list with 89.1% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Singapore
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 6.11 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$603.87 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$98,814 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Singapore.
Also ranks #1 in gdp per capita ppp · #1 in government debt share of gdp · #1 in human capital index.
#8 Panama
Panama ranks #8 on this list with 88.8% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Panama City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 4.57 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$90.46 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$19,790 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 79.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 66.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Panama City.
Also ranks #7 in gini index · #8 in income share of richest 10% · #15 in gross capital formation rate.
#9 Ecuador
Ecuador ranks #9 on this list with 88.3% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Quito
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 18.29 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$130.32 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,125 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 63.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Guayaquil, Quito.
Also ranks #5 in homicide rate · #9 in gini index · #9 in women in ministerial positions share.
#10 Mexico
Mexico ranks #10 on this list with 87.6% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 131.95 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.83 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$13,889 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Greater Mexico City, Mexico City, Tijuana.
Also ranks #2 in remittances received · #3 in tourism arrivals · #4 in external debt stocks.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Literacy rate for each country in 1990, ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above): Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.