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Samoa · page 3

From Wikipedia, «Samoa», revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, CC BY-SA 4.0. The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too.

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On Upolu;176

On Savaiʻi;182

1 including the faipule district of Siumu ; 2 including islands Manono, Apolima and Nuʻulopa ; 3 including the Aleipata Islands and Nuʻusafeʻe Island ; 4 smaller parts also on Upolu (Salamumu, incl.189 Salamumu-Uta and Leauvaʻa villages)190

Human rights

See also: Human rights in Samoa

Major areas of concern include the under-representation of women, domestic violence and poor prison conditions.191 Homosexual acts are illegal in Samoa.[92]192

State religion

In June 2017, an Act was passed changing the country's constitution to include a reference to the Trinity.193 As amended, Article 1 of the Samoan Constitution states that "Samoa is a Christian nation founded on God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".[93]194 According to The Diplomat, "What Samoa has done is shift references to Christianity into the body of the constitution, giving the text far more potential to be used in legal processes."[94]195 The preamble to the constitution already described the country as "an independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and traditions."[94]196

Military and police

Samoa has no formal defence structure or regular armed forces.197 It has informal defence ties with New Zealand corpus, which is required to consider any request for assistance from Samoa under the bilateral Treaty of Friendship of 1962.[95]198

Officers of the national police force, the Samoa Police Service, are regularly unarmed, but may be armed in exceptional circumstances with ministerial approval.[96]199 As of 2022 there are between 900 and 1,100 police officers in Samoa.200

Geography

Main article: Geography of Samoa

Samoa lies south of the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean.201 The total land area is 2,842 km2,[97] consisting of the two large islands of Upolu and Savaiʻi (which together account for 99% of the total land area) and eight small islets.202

The islets are:[98]203

The main island of Upolu is home to nearly three-quarters of Samoa's population, and to the capital city, Apia corpus.207

The Samoan Islands result geologically from volcanism originating from the Samoa hotspot, which is probably driven by a mantle plume.[99][100]208 While all of the islands have volcanic origins, only Savaiʻi, the westernmost island in Samoa, remains volcanically active, with the most recent eruptions at Mount Matavanu (1905–1911), Mata o le Afi (1902) and Mauga Afi (1725).209 The highest point in Samoa is Mount Silisili, at 1858 m. The Saleaula lava fields situated on the central north coast of Savaiʻi result from the Mount Matavanu eruptions, which left 50 km2 of solidified lava.[101]210

Savaiʻi is the largest of the Samoan islands and the sixth-largest Polynesian island (after New Zealand's North, South and Stewart Islands and the Hawaiian islands of Hawaiʻi and Maui).211 The population of Savaiʻi is roughly 42 thousand people.212

Climate

Samoa has an equatorial climate.213 The average annual temperature is 26.5 °C, and a main rainy season from November to April, although heavy rain may fall in any month.[102]214

Ecology

Further information: List of mammals of Samoa, Flora of Samoa

See also: List of birds of Samoa, List of protected areas of Samoa, List of endemic plants of Samoa

Samoa forms part of the Samoan tropical moist forests ecoregion.[103]215 Since human habitation began, about 80% of the lowland rainforests have disappeared.216 However, with recent reforestation, about 60.4% (171,000 ha) of Samoa is forested, of which 32,000 ha is planted forest.[104]217

Within the ecoregion, about 28% of plants and 84% of land birds are endemic.218

In June 2025, Samoa legally adopted the Samoa Marine Spatial Plan, a marine spatial planning framework that applies across Samoa's exclusive economic zone and uses ocean zoning to designate fully protected marine protected areas alongside zones intended for managed use.[105]219 The adoption included nine new fully protected marine protected areas covering 36000 km2.[106]220 Stakeholder consultations during the marine spatial planning process included partners such as Conservation International Samoa.[107]221

Economy

Main article: Economy of Samoa

The United Nations has classified Samoa as an economically developing country since 2014.[108] as of 2017 Samoa's gross domestic product in purchasing-power parity was estimated at $1.13 billion U.S. dollars, ranking the country 204th in the world.222 The services sector accounted for 66% of GDP, followed by industry and agriculture at 23.6% and 10.4% respectively.[109]223 For the same year, the Samoan labour force was estimated at 50,700.[109]224

The Central Bank of Samoa issues and regulates Samoa's currency, the Samoan tālā.[110]225 The economy of Samoa has traditionally depended on agriculture and fishing at the local level.226 In modern times, development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports have become key factors in the nation's economy.227 Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labour force and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, noni (juice of the nonu fruit, as it is known in Samoan), and copra.[1]228

Sixty percent of Samoa's electricity comes from renewable hydro, solar, and wind sources, with the remainder produced by diesel generators.229 The Electric Power Corporation set a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2021.[111]230

Tourism

Tourist arrivals of 2024 in %[112]231

In 2024 about 200,000 tourists visited the country.[113]232 As of 2024 tourism makes up around 20% of Samoa's GDP,[114] a decrease from 24.5% in 2019.[115]233 The sector is volatile, affected by pandemics such as the 2019 measles outbreak and COVID-19 and by natural disasters such as cyclones and the 2009 tsunami.[116]234 The biggest sources of international tourists are New Zealand, Australia and the United States.[117]235 In 2019, 38% of international arrivals were holidaymakers and 37% were visiting friends and family.[115]236 The peak season is from June to September during the drier Samoan winter, with another peak during December and January, coinciding with the summer school holiday break in New Zealand and Australia, when Samoans living overseas return to visit their families for Christmas.[115]237 Samoa is not as important a destination for cruise ships as some other Pacific Islands, but the Samoan government sees potential in expanding this sector of the tourism market.[116]238

Samoa markets itself internationally as 'Beautiful Samoa.'[115] and promotes key attractions that include diving and snorkeling and unique features such as blowholes, lava fields and the To Sua ocean trench, a sinkhole and swimming hole.[115]239 A 2013 report stated that the most popular activities for holidaymakers to Samoa are swimming or visiting beaches, relaxing, visiting cafes and restaurants, shopping and sightseeing.[118]240 The most popular attractions for holidaymakers were Lalomanu and Saleapaga beaches, To Sua Trench, Piula Cave Pool, Papaseea sliding rocks, Saleaula lava fields and Robert Louis Stevenson’s villa and grave.[118]241

Agriculture

See also: Cocoa production in Samoa

In the period before German colonisation (from the late 19th century), Samoa produced mostly copra.242 German merchants and settlers were active in introducing large-scale plantation operations and in developing new industries, notably cocoa beans and rubber, relying on imported labourers from China corpus and Melanesia.243 When the value of natural rubber fell drastically, about the end of World War I in 1918, the New Zealand corpus government encouraged the production of bananas, for which there is a large market in New Zealand.[119]244

Because of variations in altitude, Samoa can cultivate a large range of tropical and subtropical crops.245 Land is not generally available to outside interests.246 Of the total land area of 2,934 km2, about 24.4% is in permanent crops and another 21.2% is arable.247 About 4.4% is Western Samoan Trust Estates Corporation (WSTEC).[120]248

The staple products of Samoa are copra (dried coconut meat), cocoa beans (for chocolate), rubber, and bananas.[121]249 The annual production of both bananas and copra has been in the range of 13,000-15,000 tonne.250 If the coconut rhinoceros beetle in Samoa were eradicated, Samoa could produce in excess of 40,000 tonne of copra.251 Samoan cocoa beans are of very high quality and are used in fine New Zealand chocolates.252 Most are Criollo-Forastero hybrids.253 Coffee grows well, but production has been uneven.254 WESTEC is the biggest coffee producer.255

Other agricultural industries have proven less successful.256 Sugarcane production was originally established by Germans in the early 20th century.257 Old train tracks for transporting cane can be seen at some plantations east of Apia corpus.258 Pineapples grow well in Samoa, but have not moved beyond local consumption to become a major export.[122][123]259

Transport

Samoa's transportation infrastructure effectively connects its two main islands, Upolu and Savai'i, and facilitates travel to and from neighbouring regions.260

Air travel

Faleolo International Airport, located about 25 miles (40 kilometres) west of the capital Apia corpus on Upolu Island, serves as Samoa's primary gateway for international flights.261 The airport is managed by the Airports Authority and handles flights from various international carriers.262

Inter-island ferries

The Samoa Shipping Corporation, established in 1974, operates regular ferry services between the islands of Upolu and Savai'i.[124]263 The main ferry route connects Mulifanua Wharf on Upolu with Salelologa Wharf on Savai'i, with a crossing time of approximately 60 to 90 minutes.264 Ferries operate daily, providing both passenger and vehicle transport services.265 The corporation also offers services to neighbouring territories, including American Samoa and Tokelau.[125][126]266

Public transportation

Public transportation within Samoa primarily consists of buses and taxis.267 Buses are a popular mode of travel, with terminals located in Apia behind the Fugalei Food Market and in Savalalo next to the Fish Market.268 On Savai'i, bus terminals are situated at the market and main wharf in Salelologa.269 Fares are generally affordable, with the most one should expect to pay being SAT$12 per person.[127]270 Taxis are readily available and can be hired for both short trips and day-long excursions.271 Renting a scooter is another option, offering flexibility to explore at one's own pace; however, wearing helmets is mandatory.[128]272

Road infrastructure

Samoa's road network consists mainly of paved highways connecting key towns and villages on both Upolu and Savai'i islands.273 Driving is on the left-hand side of the road, a practice adopted in 2009 to align with neighbouring countries.[129]274 The roads are generally well-maintained, facilitating efficient travel across the islands.275

Ports

The main port in Apia serves as the primary hub for international shipping, handling containerised cargo and fuel shipments.276 The port also accommodates ferries traveling to American Samoa and other Pacific islands.277 Additional ports, such as those in Salelologa on Savai'i, support inter-island ferry services and local maritime activities.[125][126]278

Cycling and walking

While less common, some visitors and locals opt for cycling or walking, especially in rural areas.279 However, due to limited infrastructure for non-motorised transport, these modes are less prevalent for long-distance travel.[130][131]280

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Samoa

Samoa reported a population of 194,320 in its 2016 census.[132]281 This number increased to 205,557 in its 2021 Census.[3]282 About three-quarters of the population live on the main island of Upolu.[85]283

Health

Main article: 2019 Samoa measles outbreak

A measles outbreak began in October 2019.284 By the time the outbreak subsided in early January, the number of deaths reached 83 (0.31 per 1,000, based on a population of 201,316[133]) and over 4,460 cases (2.2% of the population) of measles in Samoa,[134][135] mainly children under four years old, and 10 reported cases in Fiji corpus.[136]285

Ethnic groups

The population is 96% Samoans, 2% dual Samoan New Zealanders and 1.9% other, according to a 2011 estimate in the CIA World Factbook.[109]286

Languages

Further information: Polynesian languages

Samoan (Gagana Fa'asāmoa) and English are the official languages.287 Including second-language speakers, there are more speakers of Samoan than English in Samoa.[137]288 Samoan Sign Language is also commonly used among the deaf population of Samoa.289 To emphasise the importance of full inclusion with sign language, elementary Samoan Sign Language was taught to members of the Samoa Police Service, Red Cross Society, and public during the 2017 International Week of the Deaf.[138]290

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