Total dependency ratio in Samoa

Samoa: Total dependency ratio was 80.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
80.0%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
24th
of 236 countries
All-time high
118.5%
in 1968
All-time low
75.3%
in 2015
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Total dependency ratio in Samoa, 1950–2023

0255075100125195019862023

Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in Samoa is 80.0%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Samoa peaked at 118.5% in 1968 and was at its lowest, 75.3%, in 2015.

That places Samoa 24th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.

Total dependency ratio in Samoa, year by year

Annual values for Total dependency ratio in Samoa, 1950 to 2023.
Year % Change
1950 104.2%
1951 105.2% +1.0%
1952 106.1% +0.8%
1953 106.6% +0.5%
1954 107.1% +0.5%
1955 107.6% +0.4%
1956 108.2% +0.5%
1957 109.0% +0.8%
1958 110.1% +1.0%
1959 111.2% +1.0%
1960 112.1% +0.9%
1961 113.0% +0.8%
1962 114.4% +1.2%
1963 116.0% +1.5%
1964 117.0% +0.8%
1965 117.6% +0.5%
1966 118.0% +0.4%
1967 118.3% +0.2%
1968 118.5% +0.2%
1969 118.4% -0.1%
1970 117.9% -0.4%
1971 117.1% -0.7%
1972 115.8% -1.1%
1973 114.1% -1.5%
1974 112.0% -1.9%
1975 109.4% -2.3%
1976 106.5% -2.7%
1977 103.8% -2.5%
1978 101.5% -2.2%
1979 99.4% -2.0%
1980 97.5% -2.0%
1981 95.6% -2.0%
1982 93.2% -2.4%
1983 90.6% -2.8%
1984 88.3% -2.6%
1985 86.2% -2.3%
1986 84.7% -1.8%
1987 83.9% -1.0%
1988 83.4% -0.6%
1989 83.0% -0.5%
1990 82.6% -0.5%
1991 82.0% -0.6%
1992 81.0% -1.2%
1993 79.9% -1.4%
1994 79.2% -0.9%
1995 78.9% -0.4%
1996 79.1% +0.3%
1997 79.8% +0.8%
1998 80.4% +0.7%
1999 81.0% +0.8%
2000 81.7% +0.8%
2001 82.3% +0.7%
2002 82.1% -0.2%
2003 81.1% -1.1%
2004 80.5% -0.8%
2005 79.8% -0.8%
2006 79.1% -0.9%
2007 78.2% -1.1%
2008 77.3% -1.1%
2009 76.7% -0.8%
2010 76.4% -0.4%
2011 76.4% -0.1%
2012 76.0% -0.5%
2013 75.4% -0.7%
2014 75.3% -0.2%
2015 75.3% -0.1%
2016 75.4% +0.2%
2017 75.9% +0.7%
2018 76.6% +0.9%
2019 77.4% +1.0%
2020 78.2% +1.1%
2021 79.0% +1.0%
2022 79.7% +0.9%
2023 80.0% +0.4%

Samoa compared with similar countries

  • Samoa's 80.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 1.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • Samoa's 80.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.0%, 1.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 107.5% 104.2% 111.2% 10
1960s 116.3% 112.1% 118.5% 10
1970s 109.8% 99.4% 117.9% 10
1980s 88.6% 83.0% 97.5% 10
1990s 80.4% 78.9% 82.6% 10
2000s 79.9% 76.7% 82.3% 10
2010s 76.0% 75.3% 77.4% 10
2020s 79.2% 78.2% 80.0% 4

Countries ranked near Samoa

  1. 21 Guinea 80.8% compare
  2. 22 Cameroon 80.3% compare
  3. 23 Nigeria 80.2% compare
  4. 25 Malawi 78.3% compare
  5. 26 Sudan 78.1% compare
  6. 27 Zambia 78.1% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Samoa

All data for Samoa →

Frequently asked questions

What is total dependency ratio in Samoa?
Total dependency ratio in Samoa was 80.0% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Samoa?
The highest recorded value was 118.5% in 1968.
What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Samoa?
The lowest recorded value was 75.3% in 2015.
How does Samoa rank for total dependency ratio?
Samoa ranks 24th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Samoa?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Samoa data come from?
The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total dependency ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total dependency ratio in Samoa. Statizoid, drawing on UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/age-dependency-ratio-projected-to-2100/samoa/

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About this data

Indicator
Total dependency ratio
Unit
%
Source
UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed

Number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).