Press Freedom Index in Samoa
Samoa: Press Freedom Index was 19.24 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
19.24
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
157th
of 177 countries
All-time high
23.84
in 2013
All-time low
16.41
in 2017
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Samoa, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Samoa recorded 19.24 for press freedom index in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Samoa peaked at 23.84 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 16.41, in 2017.
Samoa ranks 157th of 177 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Samoa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 23.84 | — |
| 2014 | 22.02 | -7.6% |
| 2015 | 22.32 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 18.8 | -15.8% |
| 2017 | 16.41 | -12.7% |
| 2018 | 16.69 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 18.25 | +9.3% |
| 2020 | 18.25 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 19.24 | +5.4% |
Samoa compared with similar countries
- Samoa's 19.24 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.52, 57% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Samoa's 19.24 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 37.4, 51% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 19.76 | 16.41 | 23.84 | 7 |
| 2020s | 18.74 | 18.25 | 19.24 | 2 |
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 press freedom index in Samoa?
- Press freedom index in Samoa was 19.24 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.84 in 2013.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.41 in 2017.
- How does Samoa rank for press freedom index?
- Samoa ranks 157th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Samoa data come from?
- The figures come from Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Press Freedom Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The index combines expert estimates with data on violence against journalists. It ranges from 0-100 (no freedom).