Literacy rate in Samoa
Samoa: Literacy rate was 98.0% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
98.0%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
28th
of 128 countries
All-time high
99.7%
in 2017
All-time low
87.5%
in 1950
Years of data
6
1950–2019
Literacy rate in Samoa, 1950–2019
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate in Samoa stood at 98.0%.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Samoa peaked at 99.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 87.5%, in 1950.
Samoa ranks 28th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Literacy rate in Samoa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 87.5% | — |
| 1991 | 97.9% | +11.9% |
| 2011 | 99.0% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 99.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 99.7% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 98.0% | -1.7% |
Samoa compared with similar countries
- Samoa's 98.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.4%, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Samoa's 98.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.0%, 1.0× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 87.5% | 87.5% | 87.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 97.9% | 97.9% | 97.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 99.0% | 98.0% | 99.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Samoa
More education data for Samoa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,211 (2010)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 397 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2,580 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2,585 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25,964 (2016)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 34,962 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1171 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1604 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Samoa?
- Literacy rate in Samoa was 98.0% in 2019, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 99.7% in 2017.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 87.5% in 1950.
- How does Samoa rank for literacy rate?
- Samoa ranks 28th out of 128 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Samoa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.