Central government spending as share of GDP in Samoa
Samoa: Central government spending as share of GDP was 26.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Samoa, 2012–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for central government spending as share of gdp in Samoa is 26.7%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 16.2% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Samoa peaked at 34.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 24.7%, in 2017.
That places Samoa 74th out of 157 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Samoa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 28.8% | — |
| 2013 | 28.8% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 30.7% | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 28.6% | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 25.0% | -12.6% |
| 2017 | 24.7% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 28.3% | +14.8% |
| 2019 | 27.8% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 29.8% | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 34.4% | +15.5% |
| 2022 | 31.8% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 26.7% | -16.2% |
Samoa compared with similar countries
- Samoa's 26.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Samoa's 26.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.6%, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 27.8% | 24.7% | 30.7% | 8 |
| 2020s | 30.7% | 26.7% | 34.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Samoa
More economy & growth data for Samoa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.6345 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 395,277 BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.8 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 2.22 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -40.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0017 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 10.13 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 17.84 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in Samoa?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Samoa was 26.7% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 34.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.7% in 2017.
- How does Samoa rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Samoa ranks 74th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Samoa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.