Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) (rate both) in Samoa
Samoa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) (rate both) was 98.6% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Latest (2019)
98.6%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
14th
of 87 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 2017
All-time low
97.7%
in 1991
Years of data
5
1991–2019
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Samoa, 1991–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Samoa recorded 98.6% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2019.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Samoa peaked at 100.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 97.7%, in 1991.
Samoa ranks 14th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) (rate both) in Samoa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 97.7% | — |
| 2011 | 99.2% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 99.6% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 100.0% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 98.6% | -1.4% |
Samoa compared with similar countries
- Samoa's 98.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.5%, 1.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Samoa's 98.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 97.5%, 1.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 97.7% | 97.7% | 97.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 99.3% | 98.6% | 100.0% | 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, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Samoa?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Samoa was 98.6% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2017.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.7% in 1991.
- How does Samoa rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Samoa ranks 14th out of 87 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Samoa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release