Home → Samoa → Education → Literacy Rate

Samoa Literacy Rate

Adult literacy rate  SE.ADT.LITR.ZS

Samoa's literacy rate was 97.99% in 2019, ranked 11th globally. This represents a 2.0% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2019.

97.99% −2.01pp (-2.0%)
Year 2019 Rank #11 Global Peak 100.00% (2017) Source World Bank

Samoa Literacy Rate (1991–2019)

Overview

Samoa's literacy rate stood at 97.99% in 2019, a decline of +2.01pp from 2017. Samoa ranked 11th globally.

Samoa has consistently demonstrated high literacy rates, ranking among the top nations globally. As of 2019, the literacy rate stood at 97.99%, a testament to the country's commitment to education. Notably, Samoa achieved an all-time peak of 100% in 2017, underscoring its success in bridging any potential literacy gaps. Although the literacy rate has remained relatively stable over the past few decades, with a slight decline in 1991 to 97.94%, the country's education system has maintained its robustness. In comparison, countries like Marshall Islands have also reported high literacy rates, with a rate of 98.18% in 2019. The consistent high literacy rate in Samoa is reflective of the country's investment in education and its efforts to promote a literate and skilled workforce. However, the trajectory of Samoa's literacy rate may be influenced by factors such as economic development and demographic changes.

Data & projection

Year Literacy Rate YoY change Rank
2019 97.99% −2.01pp #11
2017 100.00% +0.60pp #1
2016 99.40% +0.43pp #4
2011 98.97% +1.03pp #7
1991 97.94% – #2

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +13.6% GDP growth 4.7% C/A balance 5.6%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Samoa matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Samoa's literacy rate?▾

Samoa's literacy rate was 97.99% in 2019. Ranked 11th globally. This represents a 2.0% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest literacy rate in Samoa?▾

Samoa's literacy rate peaked at 100.00% in 2017.

What was the lowest literacy rate in Samoa?▾

The lowest literacy rate in Samoa was 97.94% in 1991.

How does Samoa rank in literacy rate?▾

Samoa ranks 11th globally in literacy rate as of 2019.

What is the World Bank indicator code for literacy rate?▾

The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the literacy rate of Samoa in 2019?▾

The literacy rate of Samoa in 2019 was 97.99%. This ranks 11th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Samoa Literacy Rate. HistorySaid. Retrieved November 14, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/samoa/literacy-rate/
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_samoa_literacy-rate, title = {Samoa Literacy Rate}, url = {https://historysaid.com/samoa/literacy-rate/}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }
Part of the Kavela network · Where to watch movies, series & football globally → StreamWatchHub