The Samoa Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HEIS) 2023 provides more comprehensive data on Samoan families and has added a component to it.

The HEIS was released this week and data will be used to provide a measure of poverty, nutrition, and socioeconomic factors and allow the government to make the best policy to help Samoans.

The Pacific Community’s Statistic Adviser Michael Sharp said this survey was different for many reasons.

“The first reason is because it adopted a new method to improve data quality and usability. Unlike previous surveys which collected data using paper forms, the 2023 Heiss used digital tablets to collect data, which improved the efficiency and consistency of data production,” he said.

“The 2023 HEIS collected data continually over a 10-month period, which is unlike the previous surveys, which collected data in quarterly intervals. This means that the 2023 HEIS reflects almost an entire year of household income, expenditure, consumption and production, which means they're more relevant for their intended purpose.”

The Samoa Bureau of Statistics implemented an experimental component to the survey to improve understanding of an increasingly important source of food in Samoa and across the world, which is the consumption of food away from home.

These are foods that people are eating at places such as restaurants, cafes, fast food venues, roadside barbecues and the all-important Samoan tuna. The experiment has resulted in an output of the Samoa food portion quantification manual, and the results will be used by the international statistics community to develop statistics to better measure this important source of food.

The survey will be used to support decision-making, planning and forming policy for economic management and development.

The statistics are produced to provide an evidence base to improve the living situation of Samoans by alleviating hardship, and food insecurity and by improving health and welfare.

Minister for Women, Social and Community Development Mulipola Anarosa Molioo while launching the survey said through statistical analysis, conclusions were made about the entire population of Samoa.

“The report provides insight at the national, regional and household levels, highlighting key differences between urban and rural areas, geographic regions and demographic groups,” she said.

“The highest data plays a critical role in informing policy and planning, by helping policymakers decide on issues like poverty, inequality and unemployment, ensuring resources are allocated effectively.

“It provides insight into food consumption, nutrition and health expenditures, supporting policies aimed at improving food security and public health, especially in rural areas. The data also help measure poverty levels and income inequality, guiding the implementation of poverty reduction programs by analyzing household spending and income trends, it identifies probed opportunities to drive economic development and job creation.”