Photo: Neil derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Samoa: Governance & Institutions
How well is the state actually run?
Samoa is placed joint 106th of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness 0.203 (2025); Statistical Performance Indicators 62.83 (2024).
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Governance & Institutions
joint106th
of 194 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Samoa on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.203
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
Samoa: 0.203. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.
- World median
- 0.101
- Best in Polynesia
- 0.869 American Samoa
Key 2 of 4
Statistical Performance Indicators
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
62.83
SPI overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
Samoa: 62.83. Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.
- World median
- 69.3
- Best in Polynesia
- 63.2 Tonga
Key 3 of 4
Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
No reading
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Higher is better
Transparency International publishes no 2025 figure for Samoa, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.
- World median
- 39
Key 4 of 4
Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Higher is better
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg publishes no 2025 figure for Samoa, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.
- World median
- 0.676
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.
Government Effectiveness
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) · higher is better
SamoaWorld median
Samoa rose from -0.328 in 2000 to 0.203 in 2025; the world median went from -0.397 to 0.101.
Every year’s figures
Year Samoa World median 2025 0.2026 0.1006 2024 0.3860 0.0098 2023 0.3859 -0.0408 2022 0.1922 -0.0305 2021 0.5132 -0.0158 2020 0.5123 -0.0171 2019 0.5933 0.0150 2018 0.8310 0.0159 2017 0.8301 0.0158 2016 0.8305 0.0225 2015 0.6183 0.0038 2014 0.6190 0.0194 2013 0.0269 -0.0758 2012 -0.0325 -0.0839 2011 -0.0326 -0.1221 2010 -0.0525 -0.1145 2009 -0.0059 -0.1609 2008 0.0147 -0.2134 2007 -0.0018 -0.3260 2006 0.0188 -0.3310 2005 0.0933 -0.3706 2004 -0.3086 -0.3140 2003 -0.3249 -0.4369 2002 -0.3211 -0.3366 2000 -0.3279 -0.3969 Statistical Performance Indicators
SPI overall score (0–100) · higher is better
SamoaWorld median
Samoa rose from 53.18 in 2016 to 62.83 in 2024; the world median went from 56.25 to 69.3.
Every year’s figures
Year Samoa World median 2024 62.8 69.30 2023 64.8 68.86 2022 64.0 67.99 2021 64.4 69.96 2020 59.6 62.91 2019 55.4 61.19 2018 58.9 61.17 2017 58.6 59.55 2016 53.2 56.25
03In context
Samoa beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, 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 194; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samoa | =106th | 0.203 | 62.83 | — | — |
 Tonga | 124th | -0.059 | 63.2 | — | — |
 Tuvalu | 172nd | -0.603 | 43.02 | — | — |
 American Samoa | not placed | 0.869 | — | — | — |
 Cook Islands | not placed | 0.186 | — | — | — |
 French Polynesia | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Niue | not placed | -0.707 | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Polynesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.
Placed either side on governance & institutions
The countries immediately above and below Samoa in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Samoa is ahead of the world, and behind
31 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, 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 median13
Statistics on which Samoa does better than the middle country measured.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2463.953.246No real change since 2015
Samoa: 3.95 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 3rd of 78 · derived.
Government Spending on EducationUIS · 2023 · world median 3.7096.113.709▲ Improved since 2013
Samoa: 6.11 · world median 3.709 · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 16.39; higher is better.
Position 14th of 123 · derived.
Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1021.061-0.102▲ Improved since 2015
Samoa: 1.061 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.
Position 35th of 211 · derived.
Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.468150.46No earlier reading
Samoa: 81 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.
Position 37th of 198 · derived.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0220.916-0.022▲ Improved since 2015
Samoa: 0.916 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 43rd of 206 · derived.
Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public OfficialsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.4031.9876.403No earlier reading
Samoa: 1.987 · world median 6.403 · Firms saying firms like theirs pay officials informally to get things done (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 55.03; lower is better.
Position 140th of 178 · derived, 1st = worst.
Bribery IncidenceWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 7.2692.3517.269No earlier reading
Samoa: 2.351 · world median 7.269 · Firms asked for a bribe at least once in six dealings with officials (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 64.26; lower is better.
Position 139th of 175 · derived, 1st = worst.
Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1970.658-0.197▲ Improved since 2015
Samoa: 0.658 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.
Position 55th of 211 · derived.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.939.03412.93▲ Improved since 2014
Samoa: 9.034 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 79th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8268.3265.82No earlier reading
Samoa: 68.32 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.
Position 19th of 50 · derived.
External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9437.5643.94▲ Improved since 2014
Samoa: 37.56 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.
Position 69th of 110 · derived, 1st = worst.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.893.980.8No earlier reading
Samoa: 93.9 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-0.076-0.093No real change since 2015
Samoa: -0.076 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 102nd of 209 · derived.
Behind the world median14
Statistics on which Samoa does worse than the middle country measured.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.930.343.9No earlier reading
Samoa: 30.3 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Agriculture Orientation IndexFAO · 2024 · world median 0.3050.240.305▲ Improved since 2014
Samoa: 0.24 · world median 0.305 · Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.03 to 5.38; higher is better.
Position 81st of 132 · derived.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6811.8216.68No earlier reading
Samoa: 11.82 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 92nd of 139 · derived.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.340.387▼ Worsened since 2014
Samoa: 0.34 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 127th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 81.257581.25▼ Worsened since 2015
Samoa: 75 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.125 to 100; higher is better.
Position 126th of 190 · derived.
Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1340.0450.13No earlier reading
Samoa: 40.04 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.
Position 37th of 50 · derived.
Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.120.252.1No earlier reading
Samoa: 20.2 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Open Data InventoryOpen Data Watch · 2024 · world median 594559▲ Improved since 2015
Samoa: 45 · world median 59 · ODIN overall score (0–100). Open Data Watch, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19 to 90; higher is better.
Ranked 125th of 168 by Open Data Watch.
GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.3520.63▲ Improved since 2022
Samoa: 0.352 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.
Position 150th of 196 · derived.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1923.4640.19▼ Worsened since 2020
Samoa: 23.46 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 154th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance ScoreWorld Bank Group · 2018 · world median 2.2512.25No earlier reading
Samoa: 1 · world median 2.25 · Regulatory governance score (0–5, where 5 is the most transparent rule-making). World Bank Group, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; higher is better.
Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.857.1166.8No earlier reading
Samoa: 57.11 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 50 · derived.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.466.998.4No earlier reading
Samoa: 66.9 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.75023.75No earlier reading
Samoa: 0 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.97513.657.975Moved since 2012
Samoa: 13.65 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.
Position 18th of 168 · derived, counted from the highest value.
General Government ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 16.2118.5816.21Moved since 2015
Samoa: 18.58 · world median 16.21 · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 5.445 to 38.94.
Position 45th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Senior Management Time Spent on Government RegulationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.7955.6886.795No earlier reading
Samoa: 5.688 · world median 6.795 · Senior management time spent dealing with government regulation (% of a typical week). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 31.33.
Central Bank Independence IndexAna Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · 2023 · world median 0.6080.4750.608Moved since 2013
Samoa: 0.475 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.
No current reading for Samoa
Corruption Perceptions Index, Equal Protection Index, Foundational ID Ownership, Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2016), Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Liberal Democracy Index, Meritocratic Appointment in the State Administration, Neopatrimonial Rule Index, Political Corruption Index, Public Sector Employment, Rigorous and Impartial Public Administration, State Authority over Territory, State Capacity Index, State Fiscal Source of Revenue and V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index. 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
Governance & Institutions among Samoa’s 15 topics
Governance & Institutions is Samoa’s 10th 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 governance & institutions
The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Samoa can most readily be measured against.
1
DenmarkNorthern Europe
1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand
2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale
3
SwedenNorthern Europe
3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
New Zealand2nd4/4 keysHighest in Polynesia
Samoa=106th2/4 keys
Positions out of 194 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.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Samoa and governance & institutions
08Questions
Samoa on governance & institutions: 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 governance & institutions?
Samoa is placed joint 106th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness and Statistical Performance Indicators). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Samoa?
0.203 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.
What is the latest Statistical Performance Indicators figure for Samoa?
62.83 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.
How have Samoa’s governance & institutions figures changed?
Government Effectiveness rose from -0.328 in 2000 to 0.203 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 53.18 in 2016 to 62.83 in 2024.
Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Samoa?
No current reading is published for Samoa on Corruption Perceptions Index, Equal Protection Index, Foundational ID Ownership, Government Funding per Primary Student, Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Liberal Democracy Index, Meritocratic Appointment in the State Administration, Neopatrimonial Rule Index, Political Corruption Index, Public Sector Employment, Rigorous and Impartial Public Administration, State Authority over Territory, State Capacity Index, State Fiscal Source of Revenue and V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.
How the Governance & Institutions 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 governance & institutions method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Government Effectiveness — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Statistical Performance Indicators — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Corruption Perceptions Index — Transparency International, CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 31 statistics on this page come from 10 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
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- New Zealand — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Sweden — User:Pieter Kuiper, Public domain
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Samoa: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/samoa/governance