Samoa

total: 2,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

state-owned TV station privatized in 2008; 4 privately owned TV stations; about a half-dozen privately owned radio stations and one state-owned; TV and radio broadcasts of several stations from American Samoa are available (2019)

.ws

percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)

total subscriptions: 5,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions: 134,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2022 est.)

coconuts, bananas, taro, tropical fruits, pineapples, mangoes/guavas, papayas, root vegetables, milk, avocados (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

revenues: $371.764 million (2023 est.) expenditures: $326.052 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

$64.616 million (2024 est.) $40.177 million (2023 est.) -$74.039 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$269.974 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

ower middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous fishing and agriculture industries; significant remittances; growing offshore financial hub; recently hosted Pacific Games to drive tourism and infrastructure growth

tala (SAT) per US dollar - 2.754 (2024 est.) 2.738 (2023 est.) 2.689 (2022 est.) 2.556 (2021 est.) 2.665 (2020 est.)

$369.73 million (2024 est.) $346.187 million (2023 est.) $175.377 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, integrated circuits, coconut oil, fish, insulated wire (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

India 26%, NZ 14%, USA 12%, American Samoa 10%, Australia 9% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$1.068 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 80.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.2% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 30.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 2.3% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 29.3% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -53.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 11% (2024 est.) industry: 10.9% (2024 est.) services: 72.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

$575.749 million (2024 est.) $560.776 million (2023 est.) $512.021 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, poultry, cars, plastic products, milk (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

NZ 20%, Singapore 19%, China 17%, Australia 10%, Fiji 9% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

4.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

food processing, building materials, auto parts

2.2% (2024 est.) 7.9% (2023 est.) 11% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

57,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

21.9% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

52.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

$1.503 billion (2024 est.) $1.374 billion (2023 est.) $1.258 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

9.4% (2024 est.) 9.2% (2023 est.) -5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$6,900 (2024 est.) $6,300 (2023 est.) $5,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

26.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 28.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 33.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$507.74 million (2024 est.) $447.09 million (2023 est.) $321.163 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

26.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

4.6% (2024 est.) 5% (2023 est.) 5.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 11.9% (2024 est.) male: 7.4% (2024 est.) female: 20.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

installed generating capacity: 54,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 141.846 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 17.284 million kWh (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 98.3% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 97.9%

fossil fuels: 59.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 15.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 18.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

23.476 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

335,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 335,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)

soil erosion; deforestation; invasive species; overfishing

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

agricultural land: 17.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 2.3% (2023 est.) forest: 57.8% (2023 est.) other: 24.6% (2023 est.)

7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

urban population: 17.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 27,400 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 57.6% (2022 est.)

total : 2,831 sq km land: 2,821 sq km water: 10 sq km

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)

403 km

highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

13 35 S, 172 20 W

occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

0 sq km (2022)

total: 0 km

agricultural land: 17.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 2.3% (2023 est.) forest: 57.8% (2023 est.) other: 24.6% (2023 est.)

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Oceania

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

occasional cyclones; active volcanism volcanism: Savai'I Island (1,858 m) is historically active

hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

about three quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu

two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rugged mountains in interior

11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

name: Apia geographic coordinates: 13 49 S, 171 46 W time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Samoa dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

history: several previous (pre-independence); latest 1 January 1962 amendment process: proposed as an act by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the third reading, provided at least 90 days have elapsed since the second reading, and assent of the chief of state; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles on customary land or constitutional amendment procedures also requires at least two-thirds majority approval in a referendum

conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa conventional short form: Samoa local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa local short form: Samoa former: Western Samoa etymology: the name's meaning and origin are unclear; some assert that it can mean "place of the moa bird" of Polynesian mythology, or it could be a local chieftain's name

chief of mission: the US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa embassy: 5th Floor, Accident Corporation Building, Matafele Apia mailing address: 4400 Apia Place, Washington DC 20521-4400 telephone: [685] 21-436 FAX: [685] 22-030 email address and website: ApiaConsular@state.gov https://ws.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Pa olelei LUTERU (since 7 July 2021); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: 685 Third Avenue, 44th Street, 11th Floor, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196 FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797 email address and website: samoa@samoanymission.ws About | Samoa Permanent Mission to the United Nations consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa)

chief of state: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va aletoa Sualauvi II (since 21 July 2017) head of government: Prime Minister LA'AULIALEMALIETOA La'auli Leuatea Schmidt (since 16 September 2025) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief of state on the advice of the prime minister election/appointment process: chief of state indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a 5-year term (2-term limit); following legislative elections, the chief of state usually appoints the leader of the majority party as prime minister, with the approval of the Legislative Assembly most recent election date: 23 August 2022 election results: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va aletoa Sualauvi II (independent) unanimously reelected by the Legislative Assembly expected date of next election: 2026

description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper-left quadrant; on the rectangle are five five-pointed white stars that represent the Southern Cross constellation meaning: red stands for courage, blue for freedom, and white for purity note: similar to the flag of Taiwan

parliamentary republic

1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 2 Supreme Court judges and meets once or twice a year); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several judges) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the chief of state on the advice of the prime minister; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general and an appointee of the Minister of Justice; judges normally serve until retirement at age 68 subordinate courts: District Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land and Titles Courts; village chief councils

mixed system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts involving fundamental citizen rights

legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Fono) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 51 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/29/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) (32); Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) (22), Sāmoa Uniting Party (SUP) (3), Independents (4) percentage of women in chamber: 9.8% expected date of next election: August 2030

title: "O le Fu'a o le Sa'olotoga o Samoa" (The Banner of Freedom) lyrics/music: Sauni Liga KURESA history: adopted 1962; also known as "Samoa Tula'i" (Samoa Arise)

red, white, blue

Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962) note: 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, but it is observed in June

Southern Cross constellation (five five-pointed stars)

Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi or FAST Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP Sāmoa Uniting Party (SUP) Tautua Samoa Party or TSP

21 years of age; universal

The first Austronesian settlers arrived in Samoa around 1000 B.C., and early Samoans traded and intermarried with Fijian and Tongan nobility. The fa amatai system of titles and nobility developed, which dominates Samoan politics to this day; all but two seats in the legislature are reserved for matai, or heads of families. A Dutch explorer was the first European to spot the islands in 1722. Christian missionaries arrived in the 1830s and were followed by an influx of American and European settlers and influence. By the 1880s, Germany, the UK, and the US had trading posts and claimed parts of the kingdom. In 1886, an eight-year civil war broke out, with rival matai factions fighting over royal succession and the three foreign powers providing support to the factions. Germany, the UK, and the US all sent warships to Apia in 1889 and came close to conflict, but a cyclone damaged or destroyed the ships of all three navies. At the end of the civil war in 1894, Malietoa LAUPEPA was installed as king, but upon his death in 1898, a second civil war over succession broke out. When the war ended in 1899, the Western powers abolished the monarchy, giving the western Samoan islands to Germany and the eastern Samoan islands to the US. The UK abandoned claims in Samoa and received former German territory in the Solomon Islands. New Zealand occupied Samoa during World War I but was accused of negligence and opposed by many Samoans, particularly an organized political movement called the Mau ( Strongly Held View ) that advocated for independence. During the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, about 20% of the population died. In 1929, New Zealand police shot into a crowd of peaceful Mau protestors, killing 11, in an event known as Black Sunday. In 1962, Samoa became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish its independence as Western Samoa but dropped the Western from its name in 1997. The Human Rights Protection Party dominated politics from 1982 until Prime Minister FIAME Naomi Mata'afa's Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party gained a majority in elections in 2021.

informal defense ties exist with New Zealand, which pledged to afford assistance to Samoa in the conduct of its international relations under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship; New Zealand naval vessels patrol Samoan waters Samoa has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Somoa's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

no regular military forces; Samoa Police Service (includes a maritime unit) (2025)

0-14 years: 26.9% (male 28,952/female 27,173) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 70,225/female 67,427) 65 years and over: 7.2% (2024 est.) (male 6,743/female 8,333)

total: 2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

18.53 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

women married by age 15: 0.9% (2020) women married by age 18: 7.4% (2020) men married by age 18: 2% (2020)

3.4% (2019 est.)

62% (2020 est.)

5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio: 51.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 40.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 8.8 (2025 est.)

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 99% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

5.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 11.7% national budget (2025 est.)

Samoan 96%, Samoan/New Zealander 2%, other 1.9% (2011 est.) note: data represent the population by country of citizenship

1.12 (2025 est.)

6.8% of GDP (2021) 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

total: 17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Samoan (Polynesian) (official) 91.1%, Samoan/English 6.7%, English (official) 0.5%, other 0.2%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 est.)

total population: 75.7 years (2024 est.) male: 72.8 years female: 78.7 years

total population: 98% (2019 est.) male: 98.3% (2019 est.) female: 97.7% (2019 est.)

36,000 APIA (capital) (2018)

101 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

total: 27.8 years (2025 est.) male: 27 years female: 27.8 years

noun: Samoan(s) adjective: Samoan

-6.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

47.3% (2016)

0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

total: 210,223 (2025 est.) male: 106,542 female: 103,681

about three quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu

0.66% (2025 est.)

Protestant 54.9% (Congregationalist 29%, Methodist 12.4%, Assembly of God 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, other Protestant 2.3%), Roman Catholic 18.8%, Church of Jesus Christ 16.9%, Worship Centre 2.8%, other Christian 3.6%, other 2.9% (includes Baha'i, Muslim), none 0.2% (2016 est.)

urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 99% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total: 20.5% (2025 est.) male: 28.6% (2025 est.) female: 12.3% (2025 est.)

2.29 children born/woman (2025 est.)

urban population: 17.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

4 (2025)

5W

total: 13 (2023) by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 1, other 9

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Apia