Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Samoa
Samoa: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin was 496 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Samoa, 2001–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
In 2025, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Samoa stood at 496. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 5,411.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Samoa peaked at 496 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2008.
That places Samoa 125th out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Samoa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 | — |
| 2002 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2008 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2012 | 11 | — |
| 2013 | 7 | -36.4% |
| 2014 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 9 | +28.6% |
| 2016 | 10 | +11.1% |
| 2017 | 11 | +10.0% |
| 2018 | 42 | +281.8% |
| 2019 | 84 | +100.0% |
| 2020 | 133 | +58.3% |
| 2021 | 160 | +20.3% |
| 2022 | 395 | +146.9% |
| 2023 | 375 | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 484 | +29.1% |
| 2025 | 496 | +2.5% |
Samoa compared with similar countries
- Samoa's 496 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,212, 12% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Samoa's 496 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 562.5, 88% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Samoa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +281.8% | 11 | 42 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.67 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| 2010s | 22.62 | 7 | 84 | 8 |
| 2020s | 340.5 | 133 | 496 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Samoa
More social development data for Samoa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17 (2025)
- Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, per square kilometre 0.0007 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Samoa?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Samoa was 496 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 496 in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2008.
- How does Samoa rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin?
- Samoa ranks 125th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5,411.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Samoa data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.