GeoRealityMatch
Stunning aerial view of Apia, Samoa featuring coastal cityscape and landmarks.Relaxing tropical beach scene in Apia, Samoa with palm trees and blue ocean waters.

Samoa

Oceania · Polynesia

High development

The air is clean. Access to essential health services is patchy.

Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$5,640national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 121% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 32% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$5.0K$10K$9,319 PPP$5,873Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $2,663 a person, $4,592 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2007, $3,039 a person, $4,713 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2008, $3,374 a person, $4,939 at PPP, inflation 11.6%2009, $3,279 a person, $4,906 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2010, $3,524 a person, $5,229 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2011, $3,822 a person, $5,494 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2012, $3,935 a person, $5,339 at PPP, inflation 2%2013, $4,024 a person, $5,387 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2014, $3,983 a person, $5,468 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2015, $4,084 a person, $5,682 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2016, $4,147 a person, $6,141 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2017, $4,308 a person, $6,280 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2018, $4,232 a person, $6,318 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2019, $4,352 a person, $6,638 at PPP, inflation 1%2020, $4,100 a person, $6,452 at PPP, inflation -1.6%2021, $4,022 a person, $6,351 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2022, $4,132 a person, $6,909 at PPP, inflation 11%2023, $4,823 a person, $8,203 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2024, $5,393 a person, $8,751 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2025, $5,873 a person, $9,319 at PPP, inflation 2.2%$0$5.0K$10KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $2,663 a person, $4,592 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2007, $3,039 a person, $4,713 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2008, $3,374 a person, $4,939 at PPP, inflation 11.6%2009, $3,279 a person, $4,906 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2010, $3,524 a person, $5,229 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2011, $3,822 a person, $5,494 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2012, $3,935 a person, $5,339 at PPP, inflation 2%2013, $4,024 a person, $5,387 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2014, $3,983 a person, $5,468 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2015, $4,084 a person, $5,682 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2016, $4,147 a person, $6,141 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2017, $4,308 a person, $6,280 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2018, $4,232 a person, $6,318 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2019, $4,352 a person, $6,638 at PPP, inflation 1%2020, $4,100 a person, $6,452 at PPP, inflation -1.6%2021, $4,022 a person, $6,351 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2022, $4,132 a person, $6,909 at PPP, inflation 11%2023, $4,823 a person, $8,203 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2024, $5,393 a person, $8,751 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2025, $5,873 a person, $9,319 at PPP, inflation 2.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
71.8years, at birthModerate
#120 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
62WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
5.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Relaxing tropical beach scene in Apia, Samoa with palm trees and blue ocean waters.
How it changed

Samoa's Human Development Index

0.708High human development

122nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 7th of 15 in Oceania.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #120Morocco0.710
  2. #121Venezuela0.709
  3. #122Samoa0.708
  4. #123Nicaragua0.706
  5. #124Nauru0.703
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1995

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.655 in 1995 to 0.708 in 2023.

0.600.680.750.70819952000201020231995: 0.6551996: 0.6631997: 0.6651998: 0.6691999: 0.6722000: 0.6762001: 0.6832002: 0.6822003: 0.6872004: 0.6912005: 0.6942006: 0.6972007: 0.7012008: 0.7022009: 0.6942010: 0.7082011: 0.7112012: 0.7072013: 0.7062014: 0.7062015: 0.7082016: 0.7122017: 0.7122018: 0.7112019: 0.7082020: 0.7082021: 0.7062022: 0.7032023: 0.7080.600.680.7519952000201020231995: 0.6551996: 0.6631997: 0.6651998: 0.6691999: 0.6722000: 0.6762001: 0.6832002: 0.6822003: 0.6872004: 0.6912005: 0.6942006: 0.6972007: 0.7012008: 0.7022009: 0.6942010: 0.7082011: 0.7112012: 0.7072013: 0.7062014: 0.7062015: 0.7082016: 0.7122017: 0.7122018: 0.7112019: 0.7082020: 0.7082021: 0.7062022: 0.7032023: 0.708

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 29 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
71.8 years2024at birthUp 0.3 years from 71.5 years in 2005
Urban population
18%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 3 points from 21% in 2006
Births per woman
3.802024births per womanDown 0.52 from 4.32 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
36%2022of energy usedDown 13 points from 49% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 9 points from 91% in 2005
Infant mortality
122024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 3 from 15 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.4 t from 1.2 t in 2005
Forest area
58%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 60% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Traditional fa'a Samoa culture runs deep; a remittance-driven Polynesian economy. The case for living here is clean air. The case against is patchy access to essential health services.

About Samoa

Samoa is a Polynesian island nation in the South Pacific with a culture deeply rooted in the concept of fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way, which centres communal life, traditional authority, and a profound connection to land and ocean. The landscape is lush and volcanic, with waterfalls, blowholes, and beaches fringed by rainforest. Those who travel with respect for local custom will find an extraordinary warmth and a way of life that is genuinely different from anywhere in the Western world.

Practical facts

  • CapitalApia
  • LanguagesEnglish, Samoan
  • CurrencySamoan tālā (WST)
  • Area2,780 km²
  • Plug typeType I
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Samoa's Human Development Index?

Samoa's Human Development Index is 0.708 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #122 of 193 by UNDP.

What is life expectancy in Samoa?

Life expectancy at birth in Samoa is 71.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #120 of 195 countries.