Male labor force participation rate in Samoa
Samoa: Male labor force participation rate was 54.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Male labor force participation rate in Samoa, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for male labor force participation rate in Samoa is 54.5%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Samoa peaked at 69.4% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 54.5%, in 2025.
Samoa ranks 177th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Male labor force participation rate in Samoa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.2% | — |
| 1991 | 68.4% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 68.6% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 68.6% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 69.0% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 68.9% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 68.9% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 69.1% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 69.3% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 69.4% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 69.3% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 69.0% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 68.8% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 68.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 68.6% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 68.3% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 68.3% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 68.2% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 68.1% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 68.1% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 67.8% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 67.7% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 67.9% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 67.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 67.9% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 67.7% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 67.4% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 67.3% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 65.2% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 62.9% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 60.1% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 57.9% | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 56.5% | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 55.9% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 55.2% | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 54.5% | -1.3% |
Samoa compared with similar countries
- Samoa's 54.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.6%, 76% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Samoa's 54.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 72.0%, 76% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.8% | 68.2% | 69.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.5% | 68.1% | 69.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.0% | 62.9% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.7% | 54.5% | 60.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Samoa
- 174 United States Virgin Islands 56.2% compare
- 175 Tajikistan 55.8% compare
- 176 Sierra Leone 55.2% compare
- 178 Eswatini 54.0% compare
- 179 Papua New Guinea 53.3% compare
- 180 Nepal 52.9% compare
More work & labour data for Samoa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.332 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0409 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.92 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 52.37 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 191.01 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 187.95 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 195.61 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 383.56 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male labor force participation rate in Samoa?
- Male labor force participation rate in Samoa was 54.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor force participation rate recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 69.4% in 1999.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.5% in 2025.
- How does Samoa rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Samoa ranks 177th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.5%. 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 Male labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).