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Samoa economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Samoa ranked 185/197 by economy size with a GDP of $1.18B and 117/197 by GDP per capita at $5,393. Samoa has $296M in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 25.2%.

In 2024, Samoa made up 0.001% of the world's economy, compared to 0.002% in 1970.

Samoa GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $1,175,749,786 4.75%
2023 $1,044,909,500 15.2%
2022 $889,554,712 2.27%
2021 $859,724,936 -5.04%
2020 $868,884,903 -3.11%
2019 $912,950,466 4.45%
2018 $878,448,433 -0.61%
2017 $884,844,384 1.41%
2016 $843,924,797 7.98%
2015 $824,150,499 3.85%
2014 $796,683,520 0.66%
2013 $797,736,334 0.11%
2012 $773,141,661 -3.73%
2011 $744,097,050 3.85%
2010 $680,260,907 6.12%
2009 $628,006,115 -0.54%
2008 $641,346,192 3.56%
2007 $573,548,460 0.49%
2006 $499,923,758 2.13%
2005 $476,801,793 6.64%
2004 $407,747,565 3.09%
2003 $333,426,188 5.21%
2002 $281,790,134 5.65%
2001 $266,299,591 7.39%
2000 $258,856,140 5.09%
1999 $255,408,060 2.19%
1998 $269,485,244 2.19%
1997 $285,475,592 0.64%
1996 $249,907,869 7.18%
1995 $224,865,731 6.67%
1994 $221,098,107 -2.54%
1993 $133,122,897 4.1%
1992 $132,303,041 -0.2%
1991 $125,597,205 -2.3%
1990 $125,766,270 -4.42%
1989 $122,888,610 3.71%
1988 $133,016,065 -1.44%
1987 $111,713,922 0.48%
1986 $100,947,849 5.5%
1985 $95,572,173 3.92%
1984 $109,200,934 1.29%
1983 $111,862,824 0.43%
1982 $121,221,652 -0.96%
1981 $118,190,655 -9.03%
1980 $125,747,038 -6.19%
1979 $122,257,393 10.9%
1978 $108,223,444 6.25%
1977 $98,295,671 -0.78%
1976 $85,003,078 9.32%
1975 $93,489,283 -3.8%
1974 $93,549,611 -10.7%
1973 $82,452,985 7.29%
1972 $62,566,116 1.59%
1971 $53,719,569 13.5%
1970 $45,208,338 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/samoa | CC BY

Samoa GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $775 $2,323
1992 $777 $2,198
1991 $742 $2,166
1990 $744 $2,148
1989 $728 -
1988 $790 -
1987 $666 -
1986 $604 -
1985 $573 -
1984 $655 -
1983 $671 -
1982 $728 -
1981 $713 -
1980 $765 -
1979 $751 -
1978 $671 -
1977 $615 -
1976 $541 -
1975 $610 -
1974 $626 -
1973 $563 -
1972 $433 -
1971 $377 -
1970 $322 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/samoa | CC BY

Samoa has a GDP per capita of $5,393, ranking 117/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $8,737, ranking 137/197, and a median annual after tax income of $3,750, ranking 131/197.

Samoa GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 174 109 126
2023 184 117 132
2022 184 123 136
2021 183 121 136
2020 184 114 132
2019 184 117 130
2018 186 117 131
2017 184 114 131
2016 184 111 131
2015 185 113 133
2014 185 118 134
2013 185 118 132
2012 185 119 132
2011 187 118 132
2010 187 115 132
2009 187 114 133
2008 186 116 131
2007 184 113 131
2006 184 112 129
2005 183 107 127
2004 184 111 129
2003 185 111 129
2002 185 110 129
2001 185 109 127
2000 186 111 129
1999 183 109 130
1998 183 108 128
1997 183 103 123
1996 180 108 119
1995 180 108 120
1994 177 104 121
1993 179 124 120
1992 178 122 121
1991 176 126 124
1990 174 130 124
1989 158 117 -
1988 158 112 -
1987 157 115 -
1986 152 113 -
1985 151 116 -
1984 147 109 -
1983 145 108 -
1982 143 105 -
1981 142 109 -
1980 142 107 -
1979 131 92 -
1978 130 91 -
1977 130 88 -
1976 131 92 -
1975 130 83 -
1974 128 77 -
1973 125 71 -
1972 128 74 -
1971 129 76 -
1970 129 83 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/samoa | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Samoa is ranked 174th out of 182 by GDP (up from 186th), 109th by GDP per capita (up from 111th), and 126th by GDP per capita PPP (up from 129th).

Economic indicators

Samoa Rank
Gross domestic product
$1.18B
2024
185/197
GDP growth
4.75%
2023-2024
45/194
GDP per capita
$5,393
2024
117/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,737
2024
137/197
Government debt
$296M
2024
179/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
25.2%
2024
165/185
Government debt per person
$1,357
2024
135/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,750
2026
131/197
Income share by richest 10%
31.3%
2013
42/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.7%
2013
97/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
26.3%
2024
115/195
Consumer prices inflation
2.17%
2023-2024
135/195
Central bank interest rate
0.37%
2024
104/106
Unemployment rate
5.05%
2022
104/196
Population
220932
177/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 26.3% 25.2% 9.29%
2023 28.8% 31.8% 2.7%
2022 31.1% 41% 5.03%
2021 34.1% 45.4% 1.71%
2020 30.5% 43.2% 5.41%
2019 31.8% 44.3% 1.51%
2018 30% 49.4% 0.06%
2017 30.9% 46.7% -1.98%
2016 27.3% 49% -0.35%
2015 30.5% 56.4% -3.79%
2014 35.3% 54.9% -5.38%
2013 30.7% 54.1% -3.82%
2012 33.6% 50.9% -7.43%
2011 33.7% 41.5% -5.25%
2010 29.4% 40.3% -5.49%
2009 31.5% 33.3% -2.98%
2008 27.7% 28.2% -0.36%
2007 31.1% 31.5% 0.55%
2006 27.7% 33.5% -0.44%
2005 30.6% 34.2% 0.23%
2004 27.3% 39.8% -0.74%
2003 28.5% 42.8% -0.51%
2002 30.7% 50.3% -1.77%
2001 30% 53.8% -1.96%
2000 30.4% 55.8% -0.62%
1999 33.8% 59.4% 0.27%
1998 28.1% 58.9% 1.64%
1997 31% - 1.92%
1996 38.9% - 1.21%
1995 42.2% - -5.82%
1994 54.1% - -9.51%
1993 49.5% - -13.2%
1992 43.4% - -9.89%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/samoa | CC BY

This chart shows Samoa's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 33 years, Samoa recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 1.51% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $310M (26.3% of GDP), with a surplus of 9.29%.

The national debt reached $296M, ranking 179th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 25.2%, ranking 165th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 2.17%
2023 7.92%
2022 11%
2021 3.13%
2020 -1.57%
2019 0.98%
2018 4.2%
2017 1.75%
2016 1.3%
2015 0.72%
2014 -0.41%
2013 0.61%
2012 2.05%
2011 5.24%
2010 0.78%
2009 6.32%
2008 11.6%
2007 5.58%
2006 3.7%
2005 1.86%
2004 16.3%
2003 0.12%
2002 8.05%
2001 3.84%
2000 0.97%
1999 0.27%
1998 2.22%
1997 6.86%
1996 5.37%
1995 -2.9%
1994 12.1%
1993 1.72%
1992 9.03%
1991 -1.82%
1990 15.2%
1989 6.46%
1988 8.51%
1987 4.57%
1986 5.73%
1985 9.09%
1984 11.9%
1983 16.5%
1982 18.3%
1981 20.5%
1980 33%
1979 11.1%
1978 2.06%
1977 14.6%
1976 4.9%
1975 8.79%
1974 25%
1973 11.8%
1972 7.51%
1971 4.77%
1970 2.74%
1969 4.13%
1968 1.71%
1967 -0.52%
1966 2.87%
1965 2.11%
1964 5.31%
1963 0.69%
1962 2.65%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/samoa | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Samoa has had an average annual inflation rate of 3.44%. In 2024, inflation was 2.17%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Samoa Rank
Current account balance
$65.6M
2024
72/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.58%
2024
30/190
Goods imports
$448M
2024
173/189
Goods exports
$42.2M
2024
179/189
Service imports
$128M
2024
181/189
Service exports
$327M
2024
155/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
48.9%
2024
80/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
30.7%
2024
111/193

Samoa top 10 trading partners

Samoa's biggest trading partner accounting for 22% of all exports and imports is New Zealand, with a trade balance between the two of -$97.2M: Samoa exports $7.39M worth of goods and services to New Zealand and imports $105M.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Samoa.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 New Zealand $112M 22% $7.39M $105M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 Singapore $108M 21.1% $12M $95.7M Machinery & equipment Raw materials & minerals
3 China $70.9M 13.9% $612K $70.3M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
4 Australia $54.9M 10.8% $4.56M $50.4M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
5 United States $49.2M 9.66% $5.6M $43.6M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Animal & marine products
6 Fiji $44.3M 8.69% $1.12M $43.2M Raw materials & minerals Processed food, beverages & tobacco
7 Japan $18.9M 3.72% $453K $18.5M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment
8 Thailand $11.7M 2.29% $42K $11.6M Animal & marine products Machinery & equipment
9 Indonesia $8.39M 1.65% $0 $8.39M Animal & marine products Processed food, beverages & tobacco
10 South Korea $5.65M 1.11% $293K $5.36M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Samoa Rank
Transport & tourism services $456M 137/188
Business & finance services $65.6M 133/188
IT & IP services $53.3M 123/183
Manufacturing & construction services $22.6M 115/164
Machinery & equipment $14.9M 160/193
Raw materials & minerals $14.1M 166/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $6.52M 168/192
Raw agricultural goods $2.16M 172/193
Animal & marine products $1.7M 171/192
Metals $908K 178/192

Top 10 imports

Samoa Rank
Raw materials & minerals $113M 171/193
Machinery & equipment $105M 180/193
Transport & tourism services $91M 178/188
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $66.4M 176/193
Business & finance services $57M 165/188
Animal & marine products $56.9M 152/193
IT & IP services $49.8M 135/182
Chemicals & pharma $38.4M 179/193
Textiles & consumer goods $33.9M 178/193
Metals $25.4M 177/193

Economic freedom indices

Samoa Rank
Economic freedom 68 52/197
Property rights 77.1 41/182
Government integrity 64.1 39/182
Judicial effectiveness 77.6 33/182
Tax burden 79.3 89/182
Government spending 75.2 84/180
Fiscal health 98.7 5/181
Business freedom 63.7 97/182
Labor freedom 73.7 7/182
Monetary freedom 69.4 138/180
Trade freedom 67.2 117/181
Investment freedom 40 135/181
Financial freedom 30 146/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 68 77.6 79.3 75.2 98.7
2025 66.6 77.7 79 67.3 97.8
2024 67.2 78.3 79 67.8 96.2
2023 68.3 58.6 79.2 68.6 95.7
2022 68.3 78.4 78.6 68.5 95.6
2021 61.9 28.2 78.9 71.1 95.2
2020 62.1 31.7 79.6 62.5 94.6
2019 62.2 31 79.9 62.3 93.6
2018 61.5 38.8 79.9 55.1 78.1
2017 58.4 22.6 80.4 51.9 66.6
2016 63.5 - 78.9 57.5 -
2015 61.9 - 80.2 46.5 -
2014 61.1 - 79.9 42.2 -
2013 57.1 - 80.6 34.3 -
2012 60.5 - 80.3 61.3 -
2011 60.6 - 80.1 67.9 -
2010 60.4 - 79.6 67.5 -
2009 59.5 - 86.2 56.2 -
2008 - - - - -
2007 - - - - -
2006 - - - - -
2005 - - - - -
2004 - - - - -
2003 - - - - -
2002 - - - - -
2001 63.1 - 75.5 48.8 -
2000 60.8 - 64.5 56 -
1999 58.7 - 64.5 36.8 -
1998 49.9 - 64.5 17.3 -
1997 51.5 - 64.5 25 -
1996 47.6 - 64.5 2.2 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/samoa | CC BY

Samoa is ranked 46/174 for economic freedom with a score of 68, compared to 61/159 and a score of 63.1 in 2001.

Other economic metrics

Samoa Rank
Services, % of GDP
69.4%
2024
26/191
Industry, % of GDP
10.6%
2024
182/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
9.8%
2024
70/193
GNI, Atlas method
$1.1B
2024
185/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$8,620
2024
133/191
Total reserves including gold
$508M
2024
155/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.69M
2024
46/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.74M
2024
164/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.05M
2024
130/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.15%
2024
79/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.9%
2018
89/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
29%
2024
38/178

Compare Samoa vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/samoa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.