LGBT+ Rights Index in Samoa
Samoa: LGBT+ Rights Index was 2 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Samoa, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Samoa recorded 2 for lgbt+ rights index in 2025.
That represents a change of up 459.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Samoa peaked at 2.19 in 2016 and was at its lowest, -0.6625, in 1991.
That places Samoa 87th out of 194 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.
LGBT+ Rights Index in Samoa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -0.6625 | — |
| 1992 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.6625 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.475 | -28.3% |
| 2008 | -0.475 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.475 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -0.475 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -0.475 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.475 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.3583 | -175.4% |
| 2014 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.19 | +511.7% |
| 2017 | 2.19 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.19 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.19 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.19 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.19 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.19 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.19 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2 | -8.6% |
| 2025 | 2 | +0.0% |
Samoa compared with similar countries
- Samoa's 2 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Samoa's 2 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.25, 1.6× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.6625 | -0.6625 | -0.6625 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.6062 | -0.6625 | -0.475 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8417 | -0.475 | 2.19 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.13 | 2 | 2.19 | 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 lgbt+ rights index in Samoa?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Samoa was 2 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.19 in 2016.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.6625 in 1991.
- How does Samoa rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Samoa ranks 87th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 459.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Samoa data come from?
- The figures come from Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of LGBT+ Rights Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Summary measure of a country's LGBTI-related laws, calculated by subtracting the sum of its regressive policy scores from the sum of its progressive policy scores.