Ok here's some reasons why that extract you have is wrong.

My encyclopedia on the computer has the Congo(DRC) at 88% literacy(total literacy). Compare that with Canada's 96.6% and it's not that bad. Especially consider how many low level jobs there need no education whatsoever.
Also Eastern Europe has an average literacy rate of 98%(higher then Canada's) and it's definetly one of the poorest regions in the world. Also it has almost no wars. Thailand has 96% and it's also very poor.

Qatar has 82.5% and it's pretty rich. The standard of living there is probably higher the US's.

I think this requires a topic of it's own though.