Photo: Neil derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Samoa: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Samoa is placed 99th of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 1.809 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 29.81 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
99th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 1.809Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 29.81Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 61.21Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 6.11Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Samoa on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Samoa’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
1.809
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Samoa: 1.809. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Polynesia
- 0.537 Tuvalu
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Samoa’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
29.81
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Samoa: 29.81. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Polynesia
- 94.94 Tuvalu
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
61.21
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Samoa: 61.21. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Polynesia
- 86.21 Tonga
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
6.11
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Samoa: 6.11. Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Polynesia
- 12.85 Tuvalu
02Over time
Which way Samoa is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
SamoaWorld median
Samoa rose from 1.56 in 2000 to 1.809 in 2024; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Samoa World median 2024 1.81 3.691 2023 3.62 3.393 2022 0.46 3.002 2021 0.04 3.330 2020 1.65 2.678 2019 2.29 2.758 2018 0.75 2.439 2017 0.37 2.907 2016 0.12 2.954 2015 0.66 3.052 2014 0.19 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 2.28 3.408 2011 1.19 3.626 2010 0.38 3.491 2009 3.37 3.577 2008 — 3.878 2007 4.34 4.029 2006 — 4.338 2005 — 4.571 2004 — 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 1.18 4.051 2000 1.56 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
SamoaWorld median
Samoa fell from 37.08 in 2000 to 29.81 in 2024; the world median went from 66.32 to 85.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Samoa World median 2024 29.81 85.9 2023 37.01 87.6 2022 31.06 87.7 2021 31.07 87.0 2020 26.11 88.3 2019 30.68 88.8 2018 34.03 89.6 2017 29.91 87.4 2016 27.93 87.9 2015 27.75 88.2 2014 28.12 89.2 2013 — 88.0 2012 23.94 85.4 2011 27.53 86.2 2010 24.32 86.1 2009 — 84.8 2008 — 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 — 82.2 2004 — 81.8 2003 — 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 34.80 80.8 2000 37.08 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
SamoaWorld median
Samoa rose from 39.46 in 2000 to 61.21 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Samoa World median 2025 61.2 64.9 2024 60.5 65.0 2023 59.8 64.2 2022 59.0 63.6 2021 58.1 62.9 2020 57.1 62.2 2019 56.1 61.5 2018 55.1 60.9 2017 54.3 60.5 2016 53.6 60.1 2015 53.1 58.9 2014 52.6 57.0 2013 52.0 54.7 2012 51.1 52.4 2011 50.4 50.9 2010 49.6 49.5 2009 48.9 48.5 2008 48.0 47.4 2007 47.0 46.2 2006 45.8 45.0 2005 44.6 43.8 2004 43.3 42.9 2003 42.3 41.6 2002 41.4 40.3 2001 40.4 39.0 2000 39.5 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
SamoaWorld median
Samoa rose from 3.631 in 2000 to 6.11 in 2023; the world median went from 3.886 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Samoa World median 2023 6.110 3.7092 2022 6.160 4.0570 2021 5.216 4.2611 2020 4.503 4.4056 2019 4.584 4.1407 2018 4.472 4.2159 2017 4.189 4.1401 2016 3.981 4.2342 2015 4.425 4.2386 2014 5.414 4.2005 2013 4.615 4.3493 2012 4.892 4.0348 2011 4.774 3.9987 2010 — 4.1396 2009 — 4.6638 2008 5.117 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 — 4.1595 2002 3.939 4.0173 2001 3.977 4.1002 2000 3.631 3.8861
03In context
Samoa beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Samoa and Polynesia
Samoa has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tuvalu | 30th | 0.537 | 94.94 | 57.42 | 12.85 |
 Tonga | 90th | 2.28 | 77.71 | 86.21 | — |
 Cook Islands | 91st | 2.532 | 83.35 | — | 4.417 |
| Samoa | 99th | 1.809 | 29.81 | 61.21 | 6.11 |
 Niue | 133rd | 5.691 | 83.2 | — | — |
 American Samoa | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 French Polynesia | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Polynesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Samoa in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Samoa is ahead of the world, and behind
19 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median8
Statistics on which Samoa does better than the middle country measured.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.3430.7926.343▲ Improved since 2014
Samoa: 0.792 · world median 6.343 · Out-of-school rate, lower secondary age (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.011 to 79.71; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.9680.529No earlier reading
Samoa: 0.968 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9997.9993.99No earlier reading
Samoa: 97.99 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 45th of 172 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2197.2989.21▼ Worsened since 2015
Samoa: 97.29 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 46th of 164 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93311.339.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Samoa: 11.33 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 59th of 193 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2299.0298.22No earlier reading
Samoa: 99.02 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4398.5397.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Samoa: 98.53 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 71st of 165 · derived.
Gender Parity Index, Tertiary EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 1.2441.5671.244▼ Worsened since 2017
Samoa: 1.567 · world median 1.244 · Adjusted gender parity index, tertiary gross enrolment (1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.74 to 1.83; higher is better.
Position 90th of 95 · derived.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Samoa does worse than the middle country measured.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.6722.720.67▲ Improved since 2022
Samoa: 22.7 · world median 20.67 · Primary pupils per qualified teacher (headcount basis). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.244 to 284.7; lower is better.
Position 44th of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9417.2457.941▲ Improved since 2018
Samoa: 7.245 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 98th of 172 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3412.4413.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Samoa: 12.44 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 130th of 195 · derived.
Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.6651.1298.66▲ Improved since 2016
Samoa: 51.12 · world median 98.66 · Primary schools with internet access for teaching (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32369.91414.32▲ Improved since 2018
Samoa: 369.91 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 136th of 172 · derived.
Tertiary Enrolment RatioUIS · 2024 · world median 52.7716.0352.77No real change since 2017
Samoa: 16.03 · world median 52.77 · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.566 to 141.86; higher is better.
Position 79th of 95 · derived.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.9322.6865.93▼ Worsened since 2014
Samoa: 22.68 · world median 65.93 · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.779 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 111th of 120 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 100100100No real change since 2016
Samoa: 100 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.27939.315.279Moved since 2017
Samoa: 39.31 · world median 5.279 · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.333 to 1,724.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,240582,240No real change since 2022
Samoa: 58 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6010.5395.601No real change since 2017
Samoa: 0.539 · world median 5.601 · Tertiary graduates from ICT programmes (% of all graduates). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 17.19.
No current reading for Samoa
Academic Freedom Index, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2022), Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates (last 2021), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2016), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2023), Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy (last 2000), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2016), Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Samoa’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Samoa’s 8th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability25th of 1863/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 56th of 1832/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties67th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy68th of 1652/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade73rd of 1773/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing95th of 2004/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience94th of 1933/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge99th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation91st of 1762/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 106th of 1942/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality99th of 1592/3 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 136th of 1963/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture128th of 1843/4 keys
- Digital & Technology152nd of 1983/4 keys
- Work & Labour152nd of 1824/4 keys
No standing on Peace & Security: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Samoa can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Oceania
Australia18th3/4 keysHighest in Polynesia
Tuvalu30th4/4 keysThis page
Samoa99th4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Samoa on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Samoa rank on education & knowledge?
Samoa is placed 99th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Government Spending on Education). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Samoa?
1.809 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for Samoa?
29.81 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.
How have Samoa’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 1.56 in 2000 to 1.809 in 2024; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 37.08 in 2000 to 29.81 in 2024; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 39.46 in 2000 to 61.21 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 3.631 in 2000 to 6.11 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Samoa?
No current reading is published for Samoa on Academic Freedom Index, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 19 statistics on this page come from 4 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Samoa’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Samoa (banner) — Neil derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Samoa: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/samoa/education