Samoa

Known as the “Cradle of Polynesia”, Samoa is a small island Polynesian country located in the central area of the South Pacific Ocean and right in the middle of the distance between New Zealand and Hawaii. The state is an archipelago of nine islands of which only four are inhabited — the islands of Savai’i, Manono, Apolima and Upolu. Samoa is a tropical paradise made of volcanic activity; the islands are wrapped in coral reefs, shallow lagoons and rivers except for shorelines where cliffs have formed due to bleeding lava flows that give way to soils that produce lush vegetation. Inland rainforests and cloud forests house diverse habitats of endangered animals such as flying foxes, lizards, boa-family snakes and a wide variety of other animals. The capital of Samoa, Apia, is located on the second-largest island of Upolu.

Demographics

The population is estimated at roughly 210,000–220,000. Three-quarters of the population lives on Upolu. Urbanisation is modest, with Apia the main urban centre. The population remains relatively youthful. More than 90 per cent of the population is Samoan. Samoan and English are the official languages. Christianity is the dominant religion, with Protestant denominations the largest group, followed by Roman Catholicism.

According to July 2021 estimates, Samoa’s population stands at 204,898 with a low population density of 70 per km² and a population growth rate of 0.61%. Three-fourths of the entire Samoan population lives on the island of Upolu. 18% of the population lives in urban areas, with the largest urban area being the capital, Apia housing 36,000 citizens. Samoa has a youthful population as almost 50% of Samoans are below the age of 25 years old and a median age of 25.6 years.

96% of the population is Samoan whilst 2% are Samoan/New Zealander and the remaining 2% is made up of other various ethnic groups. The two official languages are Samoan and English; the former being the lingua franca, spoken by almost 92% of the population, and the latter being used for official and commercial purposes, spoken by approximately 7% of the population. 55% of Samoans practise Protestantism, 19% Roman Catholicism, 43% follow other schools of Christianity, and the remaining make up various other religions, including Islam and the Baha’i faith.

History

Based on evidence found in Lapita pottery shards discovered in the Mulifanua Lagoon of Upolu, Polynesian travellers arrived in the Samoan archipelago on outrigger canoes in around 1000 BCE. The Samoan language used then indicated that the settlers were of Tongan origin. By 200 AD, Samoa had become the central settlement of eastern Polynesia as is showcased by numerous legends and genealogies describing the frequent contact between Samoans, Fijians and Tongans. Samoans were known to revolve their society around maritime life; they were proficient in boat building, navigation and fishery as well as in basic agriculture growing yams, taro, bananas, sugarcane and coconuts. The villagers were governed by councils of chiefs who were called matai, and all Samoan family groups were linked by extended blood ties.

European travellers traversed the territory of Samoa for the first time in 1722 and they received a relatively warm welcome from the local Samoans who were intrigued by the technology they brought along. London Missionary Society member, John Williams, established a Christian mission in 1830, successfully converting Samoan conqueror, Malietoa Vainu’upo, and subsequently, his followers also converted. But as the foreign settlement grew, the settlers from Germany, Britain and America began to lobby for the annexation of Samoan land which evolved into battling when America signed a treaty in 1878 allowing for a naval station to be set up at the Pago Pago Harbour (part of present-day American Samoa) due to which Germany and Britain signed similar treaties for the annexation of Western Samoa (present-day Samoa). The great typhoon of 1889 halted the fighting and subsequently, the Berlin Act was passed to ensure the neutrality of the islands. However, this neutrality did not last long. By 1899 Germany had annexed the islands of Western Samoa. In 1908, the orator chief, Lauaki Namulau’ulu, led the Mau e Pule movement for independence against the German troops but were defeated and exiled to Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

When the New Zealand troops occupied Western Samoa in 1914 they were not met with resistance from the Germans nor the Samoans but most of the latter voted against the foreign rule. The League of Nations granted New Zealand the mandate over Western Samoa nevertheless in 1920, and the appointed governor administered the territory without regard to the matai due to which the local business community began an organised political movement termed the Mau, meaning “Strongly Held View” led by half-Samoan half-New Zealander Olaf Frederick Nelson. The violent crackdown on a demonstration in December 1929 during which the matai Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III and supporters were killed sparked mass outrage. New Zealand’s Labour government that came to power for the first time in 1935, gave the Mau legal rights to be a political organisation and in the late 1940s a Western Samoan council of state, as well as a legislative assembly, were established and ultimately in 1954 a constitutional convention met during which government reforms were introduced gradually to work towards complete independence for the Western Samoans. Ultimately in 1962, Western Samoa gained its independence and was the first Pacific nation of its size to do so. Then-reigning monarch Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II was made the co-head of state, and in 1963 he became the head of state, keeping this title until he passed away in 2007. High chief Fiame Faumuina Mataafa, a pivotal actor in the Mau movement, served as prime minister for two terms from 1962-1970 and 1973-1975 after which paramount chief Tupuola Taisi Efi served as prime minister from 1976-1982. When Tofilau Eti Alesana served as prime minister from 1985-1998, he sparked controversy due to his censorship of government critics. Subsequently in 1990, through a referendum, universal suffrage was introduced and in 1997 legislature was passed to change the name of the state from Western Samoa to Samoa.

Key Dates

1722 Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen is the first European to reach Samoan territory.

1899 Germany annexes Western Samoa (now called Samoa), the US takes over eastern Samoa (American Samoa) and Britain withdraws its claim due to treaty between Germany, Britain and the US.

1914 New Zealand takes over Western Samoa during World War I and continues administration under League of Nations mandate.

1962 Western Samoa becomes independent.

2001 Prime Minister Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegaoi is re-elected for a second term after his Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) wins March elections.

2006 Tuila’epa’s ruling HRPP wins parliamentary elections in April.

2007 Samoa becomes a republic; Parliament elects former Prime Minister Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi as the head of state.

2011 Governing Human Rights Protection Party wins landslide victory in the parliamentary election in March.

2013 Constitution amended in June to create a parliamentary quota system designed to ensure that after the next election, women will hold at least 10% of seats in the 49-seat parliament or Fono.

2021 Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa becomes prime minister, ending long HRPP dominance.

2024 Samoa hosts the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the first Pacific Small Island Developing State to do so.

2025 Snap election in August; Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt (FAST) becomes prime minister in September.

2026 Samoa hands over the Commonwealth chairmanship to Antigua and Barbuda at CHOGM 2026.

Legal System and Government

The government of Samoa is a parliamentary republic and includes a mixture of the elements of Samoan and New Zealand traditions. The Head of State, elected by the Legislative Assembly for a five-year term, has the power to appoint the Prime Minister to serve as head of the government. Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt of the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party has been prime minister since September 2025, following a snap election in August 2025.

Samoa’s legal system is a mixed one. On the one hand, the English common law is practised in court procedures; on the other hand, local customs are considered in certain cases. Although Samoa’s judicial system is headed by the Supreme Court of Samoa, the Court of Appeal of Samoa, which consists of the Chief Justice and other Supreme Court judges, can overturn the Supreme Court’s decision and allow an appeal.

Economy

Samoa is an upper-middle-income Pacific island economy. Nominal GDP is about US$1.29 billion in 2025 and US$1.35 billion in 2026. Real growth was about 4.2 per cent in 2025 and is projected near 0.4 per cent in 2026. Agriculture (coconuts, taro, bananas, cocoa) still employs a large share of the workforce. Tourism is the main services earner and has recovered from the pandemic. Remittances remain important. The economy is highly open and import-dependent. Public debt is moderate by Pacific standards.

It is estimated that agriculture contributes around 10% of Samoa’s GDP and accounts for around 65% of the workforce. There are three main categories of agriculture in Samoa: subsistence farming; semi-commercial farming; and commercial farming. Local farmers mostly engage in subsistence farming, with the surplus sold for cash. Common crops in Samoa include coconuts, bananas, taro, coffee, cocoa and mangoes. For livestock, cattle, pigs and poultry are often raised and consumed locally.

As estimated in 2017, the GDP of the industrial sector accounts for around 23% of Samoa’s total GDP. The light manufacturing industry in Samoa is not only growing but also diversified. Common light manufactures include beer, cigarettes, coconut oils, corned beef, soap, paint and handicrafts. Samoa’s manufacturing industry attracts a lot of foreign investment.

The tourism industry serves as the foundation of Samoa’s service sector, which is estimated to account for 66% of Samoa’s GDP but only around 7% of the workforce. Samoa is an increasingly popular travel destination for people living in American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Europe. Samoa is known for its warm culture and genuine hospitality as well as its natural beauty; white-sand beaches, mountains, waterfalls, and black rock lava fields.

Trade

Principal exports are fish, coconut products and agricultural goods, mainly to American Samoa, New Zealand and Australia. Imports are led by fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and vehicles, sourced largely from New Zealand, Singapore, China and Australia. Samoa is a party to SPARTECA, PICTA and PACER Plus.

In 2020, Samoa’s GDP stood at US$0.8 billion. Its main exports were fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (33.0%), mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (14.2%), animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products (9.2%), and edible vegetables plus certain roots and tubers (8.9%). The main destinations for these exports were American Samoa (31.0%), New Zealand (18.1%), Tokelau (12.4%) and the US (9.2%). Samoa’s imports mainly consisted of mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (13.9%), meat and edible meat offal (7.6%), machinery, machine appliances, nuclear reactors, boilers and parts thereof (7.2%). The main import sources were New Zealand (25.3%), Singapore (14.5%), China (11.3%) and Australia (10.9%).

Samoa is a member of the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA) and the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA).

Investment Opportunities

Samoa is a safe and stable democratic country and is one of the easier Pacific states in which to do business. With competitive wage rates, developed infrastructure relative to its size, and accessible amenities.

Samoa remains generally open to foreign direct investment, particularly in activities that create local employment. The government has identified the following priority sectors: tourism and hospitality; agriculture and agro-processing; fisheries and aquaculture; information and communications technology (ICT) and business process outsourcing; light manufacturing; renewable energy; and creative industries.

Foreign investors may hold 100 per cent ownership in most sectors. A limited number of activities are reserved for Samoan citizens (including public bus and taxi services, vehicle rentals, retail, sawmilling, and traditional elei garment design and printing). Fishing operations are limited to a maximum of 40 per cent foreign equity. Production of nonu and virgin coconut oil requires a joint venture with a local partner. Investors must obtain a Foreign Investment Certificate from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) before a business licence can be issued. Key constraints remain customary land tenure (most land cannot be freely alienated), infrastructure bottlenecks, and shortages of skilled labour.

Tourism is the principal services earner and has continued to recover, with visitor arrivals supporting growth into 2025–26. Opportunities exist in accommodation, eco-tourism, cultural experiences, and supporting services. Hotel operators may access income-tax exemptions of up to five years, together with duty concessions on eligible imported goods under the Duty Concession Scheme. The 2024 CHOGM hosting raised the country’s profile and demonstrated capacity to manage larger visitor inflows.

In agriculture and agro-processing, priority crops include coconuts, taro, bananas, cocoa and nonu. Investment is sought in value-added processing, cold-chain infrastructure and export-oriented production. Duty concessions are available for eligible agricultural inputs and equipment. Joint-venture requirements apply in certain coconut and nonu activities.

The exclusive economic zone offers commercial fishing and aquaculture potential, subject to the 40 per cent foreign-equity cap on fishing operations. Processing and cold-storage facilities are areas of interest.

Renewable-energy opportunities exist in solar, wind, hydro and biofuel generation. Samoa’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), launched in December 2025, expands commitments in energy, transport and land use and is intended to attract climate-aligned investment.

The government also encourages investment in ICT infrastructure, business process outsourcing, light manufacturing (including food processing, beverages and handicrafts) and creative industries. The National Industry Development Policy and Strategy (FY2024/25–FY2033/34) sets a ten-year framework for diversified industrial growth.

Incentives include the Duty Concession Scheme for eligible imports in tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries; income-tax exemptions of up to five years for qualifying hotel operators; a streamlined Foreign Investment Certificate process (target processing time of five working days); and a Citizenship by Investment Programme for qualifying investments of approximately US$1.5 million in designated areas (including development of government land and processing of agricultural or fishing products).

Samoa is a party to PACER Plus (which it was the first Pacific island country to ratify) and hosts the PACER Plus Implementation Unit. The agreement supports regional trade facilitation and development cooperation, with renewed funding for the Development and Economic Cooperation work programme announced in 2025. Samoa also benefits from SPARTECA and PICTA preferences.

Overall, the investment climate is open and politically stable, but the small domestic market, customary land rules and infrastructure limitations mean that projects are most viable where they generate local employment, leverage preferential market access, or align with tourism, agriculture, fisheries or renewable-energy priorities.

CHOGM 2024

Samoa made history in October 2024 as the first Pacific Small Island Developing State to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Held in Apia from 21–26 October 2024, CHOGM brought more than 3,000 delegates and leaders from the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries. The meeting placed strong emphasis on small-state and climate issues, consistent with the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS. Samoa subsequently held the Commonwealth chairmanship until formally handing it over to Antigua and Barbuda at CHOGM 2026 (scheduled for 1–4 November 2026). The hosting raised Samoa’s international profile, generated short-term economic activity through visitor spending and infrastructure use, and left a legacy of heightened attention to gender equality, youth participation and climate resilience. Samoa has since launched its Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), expanding climate commitments across energy, transport, waste, agriculture and land use.