Background: 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.

Area
Total: 2,831 km²
Land: 2,821 km²
Water: 10 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 403 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

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

Elevation
Highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Land use
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.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

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

Geography
Note: occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

Population
Total: 208,853 (2024 est.)
Male: 105,920
Female: 102,933
Distribution: about three quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu
Growth rate: 0.65% (2024 est.)

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

Religions: 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.)

Age structure
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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 40.8 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 9.1 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 27.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 27 years
Female: 27.8 years

Population growth rate: 0.65% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 18.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: about three quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu

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

Major urban areas
Population: 36,000 APIA (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio
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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 101 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.8 years
Female: 78.7 years

Total fertility rate: 2.33 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.4% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.6% (2024 est.); 5% (2023 est.); 5.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va’aletoa Sualauvi II (since 21 July 2017)
Head of government: Prime Minister 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

Legislative branch
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)
Percentage of women in chamber: 9.8%
Expected date of next election: August 2,030

Flag 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

National anthem
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)

Real gdp growth rate: 9.4% (2024 est.); 9.2% (2023 est.); -5.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 9.4% (2024 est.); 9.2% (2023 est.); -5.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
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

Gdp composition by sector of origin
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

Industries: food processing, building materials, auto parts

Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Unemployment rate: 4.6% (2024 est.); 5% (2023 est.); 5.1% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.6% (2024 est.); 5% (2023 est.); 5.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
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

Taxes and other revenues: 26.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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

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

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 54,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 141.846 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 17.284 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 98.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 100%
Access electrification - rural areas: 97.9%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 59.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 15.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 18.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions: 335,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 335,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 23.476 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 5,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 134,000 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 2,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

Airports: 4 (2025)

Merchant marine
Total: 13 (2023)
By type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 1, other 9