Literacy rates among adults in Samoa
Samoa: Literacy rates among adults was 98.0% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Latest (2019)
98.0%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
16th
of 89 countries
All-time high
99.7%
in 2017
All-time low
97.9%
in 1991
Years of data
5
1991–2019
Literacy rates among adults in Samoa, 1991–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates among adults in Samoa is 98.0%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Samoa peaked at 99.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 97.9%, in 1991.
Samoa ranks 16th of 89 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Samoa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 97.9% | — |
| 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 95.5%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Samoa's 98.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.1%, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 97.9% | 97.9% | 97.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 99.0% | 98.0% | 99.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Samoa
- 13 Montenegro 98.5% compare
- 14 Philippines 98.5% compare
- 15 Maldives 98.2% compare
- 17 Palestine 97.9% compare
- 18 Saudi Arabia 97.9% compare
- 19 Bahrain 97.8% compare
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 rates among adults in Samoa?
- Literacy rates among adults in Samoa was 98.0% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 99.7% in 2017.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.9% in 1991.
- How does Samoa rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Samoa ranks 16th out of 89 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.