Employment rate in Samoa
Samoa: Employment rate was 40.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate in Samoa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate in Samoa stood at 40.4%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Samoa peaked at 55.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 40.4%, in 2025.
That places Samoa 163rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.5% | 53.9% | 55.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 52.7% | 52.0% | 53.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.6% | 46.2% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.8% | 40.4% | 44.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Samoa
- 160 Bosnia and Herzegovina 43.6% compare
- 161 Egypt 41.5% compare
- 162 Gabon 40.8% compare
- 164 Turkmenistan 40.2% compare
- 165 Puerto Rico 40.2% compare
- 166 Morocco 40.0% compare
More work & labour data for Samoa
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 20.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 35.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 42.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 28.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 33.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 30.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Samoa?
- Employment rate in Samoa was 40.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 55.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.4% in 2025.
- How does Samoa rank for employment rate?
- Samoa ranks 163rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Samoa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.