Country Details
Samoa
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
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Government
Detailed information and insights
Country name
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
Government type
parliamentary republic
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
Constitution
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
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
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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
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), Sāmoa Uniting Party (SUP) (3), Independents (4)
Percentage of women in chamber
9.8%
Expected date of next election
August 2030
Judicial branch
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
Political parties
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
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP
Sāmoa Uniting Party (SUP)
Tautua Samoa Party or TSP
Diplomatic representation in the US
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)
Diplomatic representation from the US
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/
International organization participation
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
Independence
1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962)
Note
note: 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, but it is observed in June
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
meaning: red stands for courage, blue for freedom, and white for purity
meaning: red stands for courage, blue for freedom, and white for purity
Note
note: similar to the flag of Taiwan
National symbol(s)
Southern Cross constellation (five five-pointed stars)
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National anthem(s)
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)