Samoa Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Samoa's labor force participation was 42.53% in 2025, ranked 167th globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Samoa's labor force participation stood at 42.53% in 2025, a decline of +0.55pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 41.65% by 2026. Samoa ranked 167th globally.
Samoa’s labor force participation rate has declined significantly over the past three decades, falling from an all-time peak of 56.52% in 1994 to 42.53% in 2025, the lowest point in its recorded history. This downward trend reflects a contraction of over 13 percentage points since the early 1990s, with the most recent data placing Samoa 167th globally. The 2025 rate is marginally below that of peer-ranked Puerto Rico (42.78%) and slightly above Turkmenistan’s 42.03%, indicating a shared challenge among small economies in maintaining workforce engagement. The sustained decline suggests structural factors such as limited formal employment opportunities, youth emigration, or underrepresentation of women in the labor market may be contributing to reduced participation. With the rate hitting a historic trough in 2025, the trajectory points to continued stagnation unless targeted policies are introduced. Improving education-to-employment pathways and expanding economic diversification could reverse the trend and stimulate broader labor market inclusion in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 40.30% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 40.97% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 41.65% | - | - |
| 2025 | 42.53% | −0.55pp | #167 |
| 2024 | 43.08% | −0.35pp | #166 |
| 2023 | 43.44% | −0.29pp | #167 |
| 2022 | 43.73% | −1.86pp | #167 |
| 2021 | 45.59% | −1.98pp | #164 |
| 2020 | 47.57% | −2.58pp | #163 |
| 2019 | 50.15% | −2.20pp | #161 |
| 2018 | 52.35% | −2.08pp | #151 |
| 2017 | 54.43% | −0.07pp | #143 |
| 2016 | 54.50% | −0.21pp | #144 |
| 2015 | 54.71% | −0.13pp | #143 |
| 2014 | 54.84% | −0.03pp | #142 |
| 2013 | 54.87% | −0.00pp | #138 |
| 2012 | 54.87% | +0.10pp | #139 |
| 2011 | 54.77% | −0.15pp | #138 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Samoa matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Samoa's labor force participation was 42.53% in 2025. Ranked 167th globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from the previous year.
Samoa's labor force participation peaked at 56.52% in 1994.
The lowest labor force participation in Samoa was 42.53% in 2025.
Samoa ranks 167th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Samoa's labor force participation is projected to reach 41.65% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Samoa in 2025 was 42.53%. This ranks 167th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_samoa_labor-force-participation,
title = {Samoa Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/samoa/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}