Unemployment rate in Samoa
Samoa: Unemployment rate was 5.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Samoa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Samoa is 5.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and down 43.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Samoa peaked at 9.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1991.
That places Samoa 101st out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.3% | 2.1% | 4.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 5.6% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.7% | 4.9% | 7.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Samoa
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 unemployment rate in Samoa?
- Unemployment rate in Samoa was 5.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1991.
- How does Samoa rank for unemployment rate?
- Samoa ranks 101st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.