East Asia & Pacific

Samoa: official statistics and sources

12 official bodies for Samoa, from Samoa Bureau of Statistics to Ministry of Finance procurement policies and support, with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official languages: Samoan, English. Capital: Apia.

Who holds power in Samoa

• Head of state: Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II (Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa)
• Head of government: Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt (Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Independent State of Samoa)
• Foreign minister: Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt

Source: UN Protocol and Liaison Service list, dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Unitary parliamentary republic. How local power works in Samoa: 3 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.

Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.

Government, regions and cities

• Government and power in Samoa: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
• Apia (capital)

Key figures

What the figures show

The World Bank puts Samoa's population at 219,306 in 2025, up from 201,782 in 2015. It ranks 23rd of 30 in the World Bank's East Asia and Pacific region and 175th of 193 worldwide.

GDP for 2025 was $1.3 billion at current dollar prices, according to the World Bank. Divided by population it comes to $5,873, where the middle country in the region has $6,547.

Output rose 4.2% after inflation in 2025 (World Bank). The IMF's October 2026 outlook projects 0.4% for 2026.

For 2025 as a whole the World Bank records 2.2%. IMF projections put 2026 at 1.4%.

Unemployment stood at 5.0% in 2025 on the ILO's modelled estimate, which can differ from the national survey.

Government debt was 21.2% of GDP in 2025, the IMF estimates, heading to 18.6% in 2026. The regional median is 45.0%.

A baby born in 2024 could expect to live 71.8 years.

• Annual inflation since 2015: highest 11.0% (2022), lowest -1.6% (2020).
• Debt ratio 2015: 56.4%; 2025: 21.2%.
• GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2025: +44%.

Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.

Official sources in Samoa

Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output

• Samoa Bureau of Statistics
  Samoa's census, consumer price index, GDP, trade and migration statistics.

Central bank interest rates and money

• Central Bank of Samoa
  Monetary policy statements, exchange rates, financial statistics and bank supervision.

Parliament debates, votes, bills

• Legislative Assembly of Samoa (Fono Aoao Faitulafono)
  Hansard, bills, acts, committee reports and members of Parliament.

Government

• Government of Samoa
  Cabinet decisions, press releases and ministry news.

Courts judgments

• Judiciary of Samoa (Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration)
  Information on the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, District Court and Land and Titles Court.

Public audit how public money was spent

• Samoa Audit Office
  Controller and Auditor General reports on public accounts and public bodies.

Elections results and rules

• Office of the Electoral Commissioner
  Electoral roll information, election results and candidate lists.

Regulators

• Office of the Regulator
  Telecoms, broadcasting, electricity and postal sector regulation, licences and decisions.

Ombudsman

• Office of the Ombudsman / National Human Rights Institution
  Complaint investigations, state of human rights reports and annual reports.

Public registers companies, land, charities

• Samoa Companies Registry (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour)
  The online company registry for Samoa, with company searches, filings and business-name registration.
• Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
  Land management, land registration and survey services, alongside environment and water programmes.

Public contracts government tenders and awards

• Ministry of Finance procurement policies and support
  Government procurement policies, guidelines and procurement support for Samoan public bodies.

Freedom of information in Samoa

No general access-to-information law for Samoa was found in the official sources checked on 2026-10-13. No national access-to-information law could be found in the official legislation sources checked on 2026-10-13; Samoa has no freedom of information act.

What Samoa does not have

• No freedom of information law or information commissioner.
• No public register of charities separate from incorporated societies.
• No public register of lobbyists or published asset declarations.
• No official database of court judgments beyond the judiciary pages already listed.

Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.

Samoa by subject

• Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
• Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
• Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
• Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
• Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
• Housing homes, cities, water and power
• Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
• Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
• Education schools, universities and literacy
• Environment emissions, air, forests and water

Common questions

What is the population of Samoa?

219,306 (2025, World Bank). National figures: Samoa Bureau of Statistics.

What is the inflation rate in Samoa?

2.2% (2025, World Bank). Official index: Samoa Bureau of Statistics.

What is Samoa's GDP?

$1.3 billion (2025, World Bank).

How much government debt does Samoa have?

21.2% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).

Who publishes official statistics in Samoa?

Samoa Bureau of Statistics: https://www.sbs.gov.ws/

What is the central bank of Samoa?

Central Bank of Samoa: https://cbs.gov.ws/

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