The full story
Long-run outcomes: World Bank data put life expectancy at 71.8 years in 2024. 3 WHO estimates non-communicable diseases caused 83% of deaths in 2021. 2 The Health Ministry's 2024 diabetes guideline cites diabetes prevalence rising from 4.6% in 1978 to 24.3% in the 2013 adult survey; no newer national survey has been published. 4 Talamua reported a Kidney Foundation count of 210 dialysis patients for July 2023 to February 2024. 5 The ministry's FY2023/24 annual report gives no national amputation count or a comparable dialysis series. 6 The 2026/27 budget grants SAT$11,704,897 to the National Kidney Foundation but gives no patient count. 14
Mothers and children: the UN's modelled maternal mortality ratio was 114 per 100,000 live births in 2020 and 101 in 2023, with a wide uncertainty range of 46 to 233, so the fall is not certain. 7 UNICEF reported 16 under-five deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 and 60% two-dose measles vaccine coverage in 2024. 8 The ministry reported about 74% completion of routine immunisations in FY2023/24. 6
Outbreaks: the measles outbreak of 2019 to 2020, under the HRPP government, recorded 5,707 cases and 83 deaths by 22 January 2020, 87% of them children under five. 10 A 2023 catch-up campaign under the Fiamē government raised reported measles vaccine coverage to 87% for the first dose and 74% for the second. 9 The regional disease alert of 22 September 2026 lists dengue, not measles, for Samoa. 1 Dengue is a confirmed outbreak: since 1 January 2025 the ministry has recorded 20,232 clinically diagnosed cases, 5,538 of them laboratory-confirmed and counted within that total, and nine deaths, with 73% of cases in children under 15. 1 It began under Fiamē and continued under Laʻauli, so the total measures neither government's response alone.
Screening: the Health Ministry expanded village and district PEN Fa'aSamoa NCD screening in FY2023/24. 6 The World Bank's February 2026 results report showed 12 districts meeting the screening standard in November 2025 but only 33% of identified high-risk patients diagnosed within 60 days at September 2025, against a target of 70%. 11 Screening is a service, not proof of fewer complications.
Mental health: WHO described the hospital Mental Health Unit and community support in October 2026 and noted stigma and delayed help-seeking, but published no case, outcome or suicide series. 12 A youth advisory board co-chair told the Samoa Observer in February 2025 that a lack of funds and expertise contributed to youth suicide. 13 Whether mental illness or suicide rose under either government is not measured.
What is unknown: there is no new measure of life expectancy, NCD deaths, diabetes, amputations or dialysis demand since September 2025, so the trend under the Laʻauli government is unclear. The dengue count is the one measured change and it spans both governments. Annual NCD mortality from WHO, a new STEPS survey and a published dialysis series would show the trend.