Samoa profile

Demography and Health

Samoa is a small island nation with a total population of about 218,019 in 2024, reflecting a compact demographic footprint (rank 182). The age structure and population size shape public service needs, particularly in health and education, and influence fiscal capacity for social programs. Fertility remains relatively high for a high-income standard, with a crude birth rate of 25.4 per 1,000 people in 2023 (rank 53), while mortality remains low by international standards, with a crude death rate of 6.16 per 1,000 (rank 139). Life expectancy at birth stands at 71.7 years (rank 138), suggesting Samoa sits in the middle tier of health outcomes for its region. The under-5 mortality rate is 15.7 per 1,000 live births (rank 88), highlighting a continued need to strengthen maternal and child health services to close gaps with higher-income peers. The country also faces a notable level of external migration, with net migration at −2,754 people in 2024 (rank 129), which can affect the availability of health professionals, support services, and the domestic talent pool over time. In health status and outcomes, Samoa shows a mixed picture: moderate life expectancy and relatively low death rates coexist with higher under-5 mortality and a dependency on remittances and external support to shore up health infrastructure and workforce capacity.

Health system financing and capacity indicators show a modest but meaningful investment in health relative to the economy: current health expenditure accounts for 6.3% of GDP in 2022 (rank 100). Domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, is about 316 international dollars (rank 108), indicating that public resources per person are limited by the small overall economy. The physician density is 0.548 per 1,000 people (rank 77), underscoring a tight health workforce that may constrain service delivery, particularly in rural areas or during public health emergencies. On the burden of mental health, suicide mortality is 12.0 per 100,000 population (rank 46), a figure that calls for continued attention to mental health services and social support mechanisms. Nutritional status remains a concern for a subset of the population, with the prevalence of undernourishment at 5.4% (rank 73) as of 2022, suggesting targeted nutrition programs are still necessary to protect the most vulnerable groups.

Economy

Samoa’s economy displays the contours of a small, open island economy with moderate living standards and a structural reliance on services and agricultural sectors. GDP per capita (current US$) is 4,899 in 2024 (rank 115), placing Samoa mid-range among small economies but below many peers in the Pacific. When measured on a purchasing-power-parity basis, GDP per capita (current international US$) is 7,837 (rank 135), indicating that local prices and living costs affect how far that income goes domestically. Exports of goods and services amount to about 29.3% of GDP in 2024 (rank 86), while imports account for 53.8% of GDP (rank 47), showing a trade profile with a sizable import footprint and export activity that is not yet large enough to fully offset import needs. Inflation stood at 2.17% in 2024 (rank 107), a relatively stable price environment that helps with planning for households and businesses. The unemployment rate is around 5.05% in 2022 (rank 58), indicating a relatively tight labor market by regional standards, though informal employment and underemployment could still be relevant concerns in a small economy.

The economic structure is characterized by a modest emphasis on high-technology products as a share of exports, with high-technology exports valued at 396,638 current US$ in 2023 (rank 136), suggesting limited but growing exposure to technology-intensive sectors. The country relies on external markets, with foreign direct investment net inflows at 0.35% of GDP in 2024 (rank 87), signaling modest investment activity that could be bolstered through targeted governance, regulatory reforms, and incentives. A current account balance of 6.05% of GDP in 2024 (rank 16) indicates a modest surplus, reflecting favorable export receipts and remittance-like inflows or services trade, yet the country remains import-dependent given the high import share of GDP. The currency environment and macro framework appear to provide a stable backdrop for private sector activity, while domestic savings and investment gaps may persist given the scale of the economy and the need to finance development priorities.

Trade and Investment

Samoa operates in a trade-intensive environment for a small economy, with exports representing 29.3% of GDP in 2024 (rank 86) and imports at 53.8% of GDP (rank 47). This trading pattern underscores a reliance on external markets for both consumer goods and energy, capital goods, and inputs for domestic production. The current account balance is positive at 6.05% of GDP in 2024 (rank 16), signaling a net inflow of resources from trade and external sources on the balance sheet, which supports macro stability but may reflect vulnerabilities to external shocks given the small size of the economy. FDI net inflows occur at 0.35% of GDP in 2024 (rank 87), indicating limited investor activity and potential that could be unlocked through improvements to regulatory quality and governance, as well as targeted incentives in sectors with comparative advantage such as fisheries, tourism, and niche manufacturing. Samoa’s tradable-goods sector benefits from light manufacturing, agriculture, and services, but the economy remains constrained by its scale, distance to major markets, and limited domestic consumption capacity. Investible opportunities exist in renewable energy, digital services, and niche agricultural products, where policy support and infrastructure development could help translate favorable macro indicators into sustainable, job-rich growth.

In experimental indicators of innovation and technology diffusion, Samoa recorded 1.0 resident patent applications in 2021 (rank 96), pointing to a nascent innovation ecosystem. Public policy could further encourage research, development, and collaboration with regional partners to raise the productivity of knowledge-based sectors. The country also sees a meaningful share of energy supply coming from renewable sources (discussed further in Environment and Sustainability), which can support long-term energy security and reduce vulnerability to global energy price swings, an important consideration for trade competitiveness and input costs for manufacturing and services. Overall, while Samoa exhibits solid macro stability and modest current-account gains, it faces clear opportunities to intensify investment, diversify exports, and upgrade productivity through targeted reforms and strategic sector development.

Governance and Institutions

Samoa presents a governance profile marked by mixed strengths. The Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism indicator stands at 1.1 in 2023 with a rank of 16, signaling a relatively stable political environment compared with many peers. The Rule of Law indicator is robust at 0.901 (rank 38), and the Control of Corruption is 0.727 (rank 43), suggesting credible legal frameworks and reasonably effective anti-corruption performance. Government Effectiveness sits at 0.493 (rank 57), indicating room for improvement in the delivery of public services and policy implementation, though the overall governance environment remains workable for investment and development programs. The Regulatory Quality score is negative, at −0.271 (rank 110), indicating notable challenges in policy formulation, regulation, and the enforcement of business or investment rules, which can increase uncertainty for firms and complicate long-run planning. Taken together, Samoa’s institutions exhibit a paradox: a solid rule-of-law baseline and low violence coexist with regulatory bottlenecks that can hinder private-sector dynamism and public-sector efficiency. Strengthening regulatory quality—through streamlined procedures, clearer investment rules, and improved public sector responsiveness—could amplify the positive aspects of political stability and rule of law.

Other governance dimensions show moderate success: the World Bank-style measures of governance effectiveness and anti-corruption show relatively favorable trajectories, while unemployment remains surprisingly manageable at 5.05% in 2022 (rank 58). The combination of stability, relatively sound law, and corruption controls provides a credible platform for policy reforms, but the regulatory bottlenecks highlighted by the negative regulatory quality score require targeted reforms, capacity-building, and perhaps improved digital governance to reduce friction for business and public services. The net migration outflow adds another layer of complexity for governance, as human capital and remittances influence both fiscal capacity and social policy priorities. Policymakers can consider reforms that combine stable governance with streamlined, predictable regulations to attract investment, retain talent, and accelerate inclusive growth.

Infrastructure and Technology

In infrastructure and technology, Samoa shows notable strengths in digital connectivity and energy transformation, while facing the usual constraints of a small island economy. Individuals using the Internet reach 58.1% of the population in 2023 (rank 107), signaling meaningful but incomplete digital access that can expand with targeted investments in broadband, affordability, and digital literacy. The country’s capacity for innovation appears modest, with residents filing 1.0 patent application in 2021 (rank 96), reflecting a nascent domestic innovation ecosystem that could be strengthened through collaboration with regional partners and universities. Samoa’s energy profile demonstrates a healthy share of renewable energy, with renewable energy consumption making up 35.9% of total final energy consumption in 2022 (rank 24), indicating a strong ongoing transition toward cleaner energy sources relative to peers and helping to insulate the economy from fossil fuel price volatility. In human capital and health work, the density of physicians is 0.548 per 1,000 people (rank 77), highlighting the need for continued investment in health workforce development alongside infrastructure upgrades. The high-technology export value, at 396,638 current US$ in 2023 (rank 136), underscores the small scale of tech-intensive production, suggesting that niche high-tech activity coexists with broader traditional sectors rather than being the engine of growth. These indicators reflect a digital-leaning, energy-conscious infrastructure trajectory that, if matched with regulatory improvements and investment in skills, could raise productivity and resilience in a changing global environment.

Connectivity and public services are supported by governance and institutional frameworks, but continued improvements in regulatory quality, investment in broadband infrastructure, and support for research and development could accelerate technology diffusion. The combination of renewable energy progress and digital access forms a foundation for increased efficiency in public administration, health, and education, potentially expanding Samoa’s capacity to deliver services more effectively and to attract technology-enabled investment in the future.

Environment and Sustainability

Samoa shows a proactive tilt toward sustainable energy and a moderate environmental footprint. Renewable energy consumption accounts for 35.9% of total final energy consumption in 2022, a relatively high share for a small island economy and a sign of favorable policy orientation toward cleaner energy sources (rank 24). Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita (excluding LULUCF) are 2.98 t CO2e per person in 2023 (rank 122), indicating a modest per-capita emissions profile that aligns with a small, less energy-intensive economy, while still acknowledging the climate responsibility of island states. The overall environmental context is tempered by a need to manage coastal and climatic risks inherent to island geographies, including sea-level rise, extreme weather, and the vulnerability of coastal communities and fisheries. On the social side, the prevalence of undernourishment remains relatively low at 5.4% of the population in 2022 (rank 73), reflecting improvements in food security but signaling that targeted nutrition and resilience programs remain relevant in the face of climate and economic vulnerabilities. The current account strength and relatively stable inflation help finance environmental transitions, though policy-makers must balance investment in adaptation and mitigation with social and economic priorities. Samoa’s environment and sustainability trajectory appears to be moving toward cleaner energy and resilience, yet continued work is needed to scale up renewable systems, protect ecosystems, and strengthen adaptive capacity for climate-related shocks.