Top 10 Countries with the Highest Illiteracy Rates in the World

Samoa, an unincorporated U.S. territory in the South Pacific, lies southeast of the independent nation of Samoa. The territory consists of five main islands and two coral atolls, with Tutuila being the largest and most populous. It is part of the Samoan Islands, located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and approximately 300 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau. The western part of the Samoan Islands includes the Wallis and Futuna group.

According to the 2010 census, the population of American Samoa was 55,519. The total area of the territory is 199 square kilometers (76.8 square miles), making it the southernmost U.S. territory. The territory's primary exports include tuna and tuna products, with the United States as its main trading partner.

During the 1918 influenza pandemic, Governor John Martin Poyer isolated the territory to prevent the virus from spreading. American Samoa is also known for having the highest enlistment rate among all U.S. states and territories. Samoans in the U.S. territory are bilingual, fluent in both English and Samoan.

Andorra, also known as the Principality of Andorra, is a small landlocked country in Southwestern Europe. Located in the eastern part of the Pyrenees mountain range, it shares borders with Spain (specifically Catalonia) and France (in the Occitanie region). The country was founded in 988 under a charter, and its current principality government was established in 1278. It is co-ruled by two princes: the Bishop of Urgell in Spain and the President of France.

Andorra is the sixth smallest country in Europe, with an area of 468 square kilometers and a population of just over 77,000. It ranks as the 16th smallest country in the world by area and the 11th smallest by population. Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, sitting at 1,023 meters above sea level. The official language is Catalan, although Spanish, Portuguese, and French are also widely spoken.

Although not a member of the European Union, Andorra uses the Euro as its official currency. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993. In 2013, Andorra had the highest life expectancy in the world at 81 years, according to The Lancet.

According to legend, Charlemagne granted special privileges to the people of Andorra in gratitude for their assistance in fighting the Moors. The Lord of Urgell became the ruler of Andorra, and the territory was later ceded to the Bishop of Urgell. In the 11th century, a dispute arose between the Bishop and the northern lands of Andorra.

Angola is a country located in Southern Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean. It shares borders with Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. The province of Cabinda, which is geographically separate from the rest of Angola, shares a border with the Republic of the Congo. Formerly a Portuguese colony, Angola is sometimes referred to as Portuguese West Africa. The civil war that plagued the country continued after Angola gained independence, lasting until the 2000s. Angola is officially a democracy, and its former name was the People's Republic of Angola.

The name Angola derives from 'N'gola,' a title of the ruler of the region before it was colonized by Portugal. Luanda is the capital and the largest city of Angola. Portuguese is the official language, while various Bantu languages are spoken in rural areas.

Angola is one of Africa’s wealthiest nations in terms of natural resources, with abundant reserves of oil, natural gas, diamonds, and other minerals. Despite this, it remains one of the least developed countries, with much of the population living in poverty. Angola also has one of the lowest life expectancies and the highest infant mortality rates in the world.

With an area of 1,246,700 square kilometers, Angola is the second-largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, just after Niger. It is roughly the same size as Mali and nearly twice the size of the U.S. state of Texas. Angola shares borders with Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the northeast, and the South Atlantic Ocean to the west. Cabinda province, which is an exclave, shares a border with the Republic of the Congo to the north. The capital, Luanda, is located on the Atlantic coast in the northwest. The average temperature on Angola's coastline is 16°C (60°F) in winter and 21°C (70°F) in summer.

Anguilla is a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean, one of the northernmost islands in the Leeward Islands group of the Lesser Antilles. It consists of the main island of Anguilla, which is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) long and 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide at its widest point, along with several smaller, uninhabited islands and cays. The capital of Anguilla is The Valley. The total land area of the territory is 102 square kilometers (39.4 square miles), with a population of around 15,000 (as of 2016).

The island is affected by the northeast trade winds, which make it a relatively cool and dry tropical destination. The average annual temperature is 27°C. The hottest months are from July to October, while November to February offers a mild and pleasant climate.

The average rainfall is 890 mm per year, although this varies by season and year. The island is frequently impacted by major storms and tropical hurricanes from July to November. Anguilla suffered damage from Hurricane Luis in 1995 and experienced significant flooding from Hurricane Lenny, with water levels rising 5-20 feet.

Anguilla's dry, thin soil makes it unsuitable for agriculture, though there are some areas that rely on natural resources. The main industries on the island are tourism, offshore company formation and management, international banking, insurance, and fishing.

Before the global financial crisis of 2008, Anguilla's economy had been rapidly expanding, particularly in tourism, driven by new partnerships with multinational corporations. Anguilla has become a popular tax haven, with no property, income, or direct taxes on individuals or businesses.

Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, comprising two main islands, Antigua and Barbuda. Situated between the Leeward Islands, it is close to Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, and Anguilla. Antigua and Barbuda are part of the southern region of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles.

Antigua is a limestone island. In 1493, during his second voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus arrived here and named the island after the famous church 'Santa Maria la Antigua de Serille' in Seville, Spain, which means 'Saint Mary, the most revered in Seville'. Due to the long name, the island is commonly referred to as 'Antigua,' which means 'ancient' or 'old,' symbolizing the long history of the church in Seville.

In 1632, Antigua was claimed by the English, and by 1667 it became an official British colony. In February 1967, the island gained internal self-government and became part of the British Commonwealth. Barbuda, on the other hand, is a coral island. The island is known for its wild pigs, wild chickens, and deer, making it a popular hunting paradise. The two islands, located just 40 km apart, are often referred to as the 'sister islands' of the Caribbean. Antigua and Barbuda gained full independence as the 32nd Latin American country on November 1, 1981.

Argentina is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It operates as a federal republic, composed of 23 provinces and a self-governing capital city, Buenos Aires. With the eighth largest land area in the world, Argentina is the largest Spanish-speaking country by size, though countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Spain have larger populations.

The country's terrain stretches from the Andes mountains in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. It shares borders with Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, and Chile to the west and south. Argentina also claims sovereignty over Antarctica, a claim that overlaps with disputed territories held by Chile and the United Kingdom. Internationally, the Antarctic Treaty of 1961 invalidated territorial claims in the region. Argentina further claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands, which are currently administered by the UK as British Overseas Territories.

Recognized as a regional power, Argentina has the third-largest economy in Latin America, with a high Human Development Index ranking. Within Latin America, it ranks fifth in nominal GDP, but is the highest in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).

Analysts suggest that Argentina has the 'foundations for future development' due to its large market size, levels of foreign direct investment, and the high-tech export sector, all contributing significantly to its total output. Investors classify Argentina as an emerging market economy. It is a founding member of the United Nations, Mercosur, the Union of South American Nations, the OEI, the World Bank Group, the World Trade Organization, and is part of the G20 group of major economies.

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a West African country, formerly known as Dahomey until 1975. It shares borders with Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. To the south, the country has a short coastline leading to the Gulf of Benin. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the government is based in Cotonou.

Benin stretches from the Niger River in the north to the Gulf of Benin in the south, with a fairly uniform elevation across the country. Most of the population resides in the coastal plains to the south, home to the country's largest cities, including Porto-Novo and Cotonou. The northern region is largely composed of savannahs and semi-arid plateaus.

Benin has a hot and humid climate, with relatively low rainfall compared to other West African nations, although there are two rainy seasons (April, June, and September to November). During the Harmattan winter, dust-laden winds can make the nights colder.

The largest city and the capital is Cotonou. The name Cotonou is derived from the Fon language phrase "ku tɔ nu" (at the lake of the dead), symbolizing the belief that falling stars represent the souls of the dead in the afterlife. Legend has it that when Cotonou was founded, the light from villages along Lake Ganvié reflected off the water, creating the illusion of stars falling beneath the surface. Ganvié is a fishing village with stilt houses along the western shore of the lake.

The town of Ouidah is the religious capital of Vodun, known locally as glexwe. It was once a major slave port under Portuguese rule. The town of Abomey was the former capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey, and it was home to the Fon kings.

In Atakora Province, the Betamaribe settlements near the Togo border are known as tata somba (Somba houses). These are famous for their fortified structures, where houses are built within the walls and people sleep in huts surrounded by grain storages on the rooftops.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a country in Central and South Asia, and sometimes classified as part of the Middle East. It shares cultural, linguistic, and geographical ties with most of its neighboring countries.

Afghanistan has long borders with Pakistan to the south and east, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, and the People's Republic of China in the far northeast. The name Afghanistan translates to "Land of the Afghans".

Afghanistan is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world. It is the world's largest producer of opium, accounting for over 90% of global supply. The national sport is Baba Bazi, and the country's dominant ideology is the Taliban's interpretation of Islam.

The country is home to various ethnic groups and lies at the crossroads of East and West. It has historically been a center of trade and migration. Afghanistan has endured numerous invasions and conquests, including by the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Arab Muslims, Turkish tribes, the Mongols, the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and the United States.

In the mid-18th century, Ahmad Shah Durrani established Afghanistan as a unified nation with its capital in Kandahar. By the early 20th century, most of the country's territory had been ceded to neighboring states following regional conflicts. On August 19, 1919, after the Third Anglo-Afghan War, the country regained full independence from Britain regarding foreign affairs.

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a country located in Southeast Europe. It borders Montenegro to the northwest, Serbia to the north, North Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south. Albania has coastlines along the Adriatic Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the southwest. The country is a potential candidate for membership in the European Union and NATO.

Albania covers an area of 28,750 square kilometers. Its coastline stretches for 362 kilometers, facing both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The western lowlands lie along the Adriatic coast, while about 70% of the country consists of mountainous terrain, often difficult to access. The highest peak is Mount Korab, located in the Dibra district, reaching 2,753 meters (9,032 feet).

Albania has a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers in higher altitudes. Besides the capital city, Tirana, which has a population of 800,000, other major cities include Durrës, Elbasan, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Vlorë, Korçë, and Kukës. In Albanian grammar, both definite and indefinite forms of a word are used, which is also the case for the names of cities: Tiranë and Tirana, Shkodër and Shkodra are both used.