## Samoa: 2026 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Samoa

_IMF Staff Country Reports, September 21, 2026_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Samoa: 2026 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Samoa](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2026/09/21/samoa-2026-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-and-statement-by-the-579698)

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## Bibliographic details
- Published: September 21, 2026
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229060769.002

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### Executive summary
- Following a strong post-pandemic recovery, Samoa’s economy faces a challenging external environment.
- As a net oil importer, Samoa has been adversely affected by the global energy price shock.
- Higher import costs are weighing on growth and contributing to rising inflation.
- The economy remains resilient, supported by low public debt and ample international reserves.
- Structural constraints and high exposure to natural disasters continue to complicate policy trade-offs and macroeconomic management.

### Macro vulnerabilities and buffers
- Vulnerabilities:
  - High exposure to natural disasters.
  - Structural constraints that complicate macroeconomic management.
  - Sensitivity to external shocks, notably global energy price shocks due to being a net oil importer.
- Buffers:
  - Low public debt.
  - Ample international reserves.

### Policy implications and trade-offs
- Policymakers face complicated trade-offs between supporting growth and managing inflationary pressures driven by higher import costs.
- Structural reforms and disaster risk management remain central to improving macroeconomic resilience.
- The challenging external environment increases the importance of maintaining buffers (low public debt and international reserves) while addressing structural constraints.

### Key statistics and publication metadata
- Date: September 21, 2026
- Pages: 90
- Volume: 2026
- Issue: 250
- Series: Country Report No. 2026/250
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229060769.002
- Stock No: 1WSMEA2026001
- ISBN: 9798229060769
- ISSN: 1934-7685
- Subject headings: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), Crime, External debt, Inflation, Prices, Public debt

*Source: Samoa: 2026 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Samoa (IMF Staff Country Report), September 21, 2026.*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2026/09/21/samoa-2026-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-and-statement-by-the-579698_