9 answers, 3 from Samoa's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
89.2% of primary-school-age children in Samoa were attending school, according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics' Samoa DHS-MICS 2025 report. The adjusted net attendance rate was 78.1% at lower secondary age and 71.0% at upper secondary age, and 21.9% of upper-secondary-age young people were not in any education.
Completion rates were 96.3% for primary, 94.4% for lower secondary and 57.1% for upper secondary. These are household survey estimates from 2025, so they differ from school enrolment records kept by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
54.3% of children aged 7 to 14 in Samoa completed three foundational reading tasks, and 45.1% completed four foundational numeracy tasks, according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics' Samoa DHS-MICS 2025 report. Among children attending grade 2 or 3, 25.0% passed the reading tasks and 21.8% the numeracy tasks.
The tasks test the skills expected by about grade 2 or 3, so a pass means a child has basic, not advanced, skills. 68.0% of children aged 7 to 14 read books or were read to at home. Government spent SAT $126.5 million on education in 2025/26, according to the bureau's government finance statistics.
Yes. Results in national and regional exams show a persisting and growing gap in which boys' performance lags behind girls' in Samoa's primary and secondary schools, according to the Ministry of Education's Samoa Gender Achievement Gap report of October 2023, which cites the Ministry's Statistical Digest and the 2018 PILNA regional assessment.
The Ministry's 2021 study surveyed 2,402 people, including 1,722 students from 48 schools with large gaps. Between 41% (Year 13) and 51% (Year 12) of the boys said they spent more time on chores than on study. The report is listed on the Ministry's report page.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
94.4%: that is net primary school enrolment in Samoa for 2018, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2007 it has ranged from 93.8% (2011) to 98.4% (2007). Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 93.1%, and Samoa placed 3rd highest of 9. Of 69 countries with 2018 data, 28th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross secondary school enrolment in Samoa at 87.4% in 2016. The peak was 87.6% in 2015 and the low 80.5% in 2007. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 87.8%, and Samoa placed 11th highest of 19. Of 140 countries with 2016 data, 86th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross tertiary enrolment in Samoa at 16.0% in 2024. The peak was 19.1% in 2021 and the low 13.3% in 2017. East Asia & Pacific median: 47.4%; Samoa is 14th highest of 15. Worldwide: 76th of 90.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in Samoa was 98.0% in 2019. It was 99.0% in 2011. East Asia & Pacific median: 95.4%; Samoa is 3rd highest of 12. Of 55 countries with 2019 data, 12th highest.
5.5% of GDP: that is government spending on education in Samoa for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 6.2% of GDP in 2022 and the low 4.0% of GDP in 2016. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 5.2% of GDP, and Samoa placed 2nd highest of 5. Of 36 countries with 2024 data, 11th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the primary completion rate in Samoa at 100.0% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 97.8% (2006) to 108.8% (2016). It is 9th highest of 20 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 98.9%. World rank, highest first: 23rd of 104.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error