Country Profile: Samoa

Samoa is a Pacific island nation located approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, comprising two main islands, Savaii and Upolu. With a population of around 208,853, the country has a rich cultural heritage influenced by Austronesian settlers and European colonization. The economy is primarily based on agriculture, fishing, and tourism, with significant remittances contributing to its growth. Governed as a parliamentary republic, Samoa has seen political stability since regaining independence in 1962.

Geography

Samoa occupies an almost central position within Polynesia, featuring two main islands and several smaller islets. The country's climate is tropical, with a rainy season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. The terrain includes a narrow coastal plain and rugged volcanic mountains, with its highest point being Mount Silisili at 1,857 meters.

Total area: 2,831 sq km
Coastline length: 403 km
Climate: Tropical, with distinct rainy and dry seasons.
Natural resources: Includes hardwood forests, fish, and potential hydropower.
Natural hazards: Occasional cyclones and active volcanism.

People and Society

The estimated population of Samoa is 208,853 as of 2024, with a gender distribution of 105,920 males and 102,933 females. The Samoan ethnicity dominates the population, with nearly 96% identifying as Samoan. The official languages are Samoan and English, while the major religions include various branches of Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.

Population growth rate: 0.65% (2024)
Life expectancy at birth: 75.7 years (2024)
Median age: 27.4 years (2024)
Urbanization: 17.5% of the population lives in urban areas (2023)
Literacy rate: 98% (2019)

Economy

Samoa's economy is classified as a lower middle-income Pacific island economy, heavily reliant on agriculture and fishing, which together account for a significant portion of the GDP. The country has been expanding its offshore financial services and tourism sectors, notably hosting the Pacific Games to enhance infrastructure.

GDP (PPP): $1.503 billion (2024)
GDP growth rate: 9.4% (2024)
Unemployment rate: 4.6% (2024)
Remittances as % of GDP: 26.4% (2024)
Major exports: Refined petroleum, coconut oil, and fish.

Government

Samoa is a parliamentary republic with a legal system that integrates English common law and customary law. The capital, Apia, is central to governance, while the administration is divided into 11 districts. The current Prime Minister, La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, took office on 16 September 2025.

Independence: Achieved on 1 January 1962
Suffrage: Universal at 21 years of age
Legislative Assembly seats: 51
Most recent election: 23 August 2022
Political parties: Major parties include FAST and HRPP.

Military and Security

Samoa does not maintain regular military forces; instead, it relies on the Samoa Police Service, which includes a maritime unit. The country has informal defense ties with New Zealand, which provides assistance under a treaty, and a "shiprider" agreement with the US to enhance maritime law enforcement capabilities.

Military presence: No regular military forces (2025)
Defensive partnerships: Notably with New Zealand and the US.
Maritime law enforcement: Includes patrols by New Zealand naval vessels.

Energy

Samoa has a high rate of electrification, with 98.3% of the population having access to electricity. The country's energy generation relies significantly on fossil fuels, alongside contributions from renewable sources like solar and hydroelectric power.

Installed electricity capacity: 54,000 kW (2023)
Electricity consumption: 141.846 million kWh (2023)
Fossil fuels contribution to capacity: 59.7% (2023)
Access to electricity in rural areas: 97.9% (2022)

Environment

Samoa faces environmental challenges including soil erosion, deforestation, and the impact of invasive species. The country is active in various international environmental agreements aimed at addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity.

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 27,400 tons (2024)
Recycling rate: 57.6% of municipal solid waste (2022)
Primary environmental issues: Involves deforestation and overfishing.

Transportation

Samoa maintains a small number of airports and a limited merchant marine fleet. The capital, Apia, is served by an airport and has one key port that handles the majority of maritime trade.

Airports: 4 (2025)
Merchant marine: 13 vessels (2023)
Total ports: 1 (2024)
Major port: Apia.

Communications

Samoa has seen growth in mobile telephone usage and internet access, with approximately 58% of the population using the internet. The country has a mix of state-owned and private media outlets.

Mobile cellular subscriptions: 134,000 (2022)
Internet users: 58% of the population (2023)
Fixed-line subscriptions: 5,000 (2022)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	208,853	Estimate for 2024
Area	2,831 sq km	Total land area
GDP (PPP)	$1.503 billion	Estimate for 2024
Unemployment rate	4.6%	Estimate for 2024
Life expectancy	75.7 years	Estimate for 2024
Birth rate	18.8 births/1,000 population	Estimate for 2024
Energy consumption per capita	23.476 million Btu/person	Estimate for 2023
Adult obesity prevalence	47.3%	Data from 2016
Literacy rate	98%	Estimate for 2019
Electrification	98.3%	Estimate for 2022