Pacific Regional Council for Early Childhood Development

Country Samoa flag Profile

Samoa

Four inhabited islands make up the country of Samoa, Savai'I, Upolu Manono and Apolima, along with several other uninhabited islands. About three-quarters of the population of Samoa lives on Upolu. More than 90 percent of the population speaks Samoan.

Demographics

  • Population

    198,410

  • Annual births

    4,761

  • Children under five years old

    26,990

  • Under-five mortality

    15

    per 1,000 live births

ECD Indices

  • ECDI

    No data

    Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) is an overall index score capturing the percentage of children aged 36-59 months who are on track in at least three of four domains. This is currently represented in the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) that assesses children aged 36-59 months in four domains: language/literacy, numeracy, physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development. Mothers or primary caregivers are asked 20 questions about the way their children behave in certain everyday situations, and the skills and knowledge they have acquired. (Click here to know more.)

  • Lifetime cost of growth deficit in early childhood

    55%

    This refers to the estimated the economic costs of poor early development by calculating the cost of child growth deficit as a percent loss of the annual adult wage in the country. (Click here to know more.)

  • Human capital index

    0.55

    The Human Capital Index is a summary measure of the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to acquire by age 18, given the risks of poor health and poor education that prevail in the country where she lives. (Click here to know more.)

Threats to early childhood development

  • Maternal mortality

    43

    per 100,000 births

  • Low birthweight

    No data

    of all births

  • Under-five stunting

    5%

    of all births

  • Child poverty

    No data

    of all births

  • Violent discipline

    No data

    of all births

  • Preterm births

    6%

    of all births

  • Young mothers (births by 18 years)

    6%

    of all births

  • Inadequate supervision

    No data

    of all births

Nurturing care

Healthcare

  • Antenatal care

    73%

  • Postnatal visits

    63%

Nutrition

  • Early initiation of breastfeeding

    81%

  • Exclusive breastfeeding

    70%

  • Minimum acceptable diet

    No data

Early learning

  • Attendance in ECD

    No data

  • Early stimulation at home

    No data

  • Children's books in the home

    No data

Security and safety

  • Birth registration

    59%

  • Positive discipline

    No data

  • Basic drinking water

    97%

  • Basic sanitation

    98%

Responsive caregiving

Enabling environments

  • Paid maternity leave

    <14 weeks

  • Paid paternity leave

    No paid leave

  • Child and family social protection

    No

  • National ECD Policy

    No

  • ECD Coordination Mechanism

    No