Samoa is a country in Polynesia. Its capital is Apia.
Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Apia; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapSamoa’s two main islands, Savai‘i and Upolu, are volcanic and mountainous. Interior ridges descend toward narrow coastal plains where many settlements are located. Lava fields, forests and river valleys reflect both volcanic origins and tropical rainfall.
Parts of Savai‘i preserve relatively recent lava landscapes. Waterfalls and greener valleys elsewhere show how rain and erosion reshape volcanic terrain. Smaller islands add to the country’s coastal and marine setting.
Samoa is warm and humid, with a wetter summer season and a relatively drier period. Mountainous interiors receive more rain than some sheltered coastal areas.
Exposed mountain slopes receive more rain than sheltered areas. Forested catchments supply streams, while reefs and lagoons support coastal habitats. Heavy rainfall and cyclones can quickly connect inland runoff with conditions at the shore.
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
Samoan and English are official languages. Samoan is the principal everyday language and is central to oral traditions and customary public speaking.
Samoan includes different registers suited to ordinary conversation and formal oratory. English also has important educational and international roles. The language is shared with American Samoa despite the separate political systems.
The finely woven ‘ie Samoa is made from prepared pandanus strips and can require months of skilled work. Mats are displayed and exchanged at occasions such as weddings and funerals. Their importance lies in both the craftsmanship and the relationships expressed through ceremonial exchange.
Sources: UNESCO · ‘Ie Samoa
Samoan societies developed a chiefly political system long before European contact. An 1899 agreement divided the archipelago between Germany and the United States. New Zealand occupied German Samoa in 1914 and later administered it under international mandates. The Mau movement pressed for self-rule, and Samoa became independent in 1962. It changed its official name from Western Samoa to Samoa in 1997.
Services, tourism, remittances and development assistance are important sources of income. Agriculture and fisheries provide livelihoods and export products, including coconut products and other foods. The small domestic market, cyclone exposure and dependence on imported fuel and goods affect economic resilience.
Food processing, coconut products, fisheries, tourism services and public administration.
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 140,400 | 140.400 |
| 1980 | 164,322 | 164.322 |
| 1990 | 169,042 | 169.042 |
| 2000 | 181,685 | 181.685 |
| 2010 | 193,023 | 193.023 |
| 2020 | 211,944 | 211.944 |
| 2025 | 219,306 | 219.306 |
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 428,373,059 | 0.428 |
| 1991 | 418,520,426 | 0.419 |
| 1992 | 417,683,439 | 0.418 |
| 1993 | 434,808,422 | 0.435 |
| 1994 | 423,755,155 | 0.424 |
| 1995 | 452,035,062 | 0.452 |
| 1996 | 484,486,518 | 0.484 |
| 1997 | 487,603,826 | 0.488 |
| 1998 | 498,306,192 | 0.498 |
| 1999 | 509,196,347 | 0.509 |
| 2000 | 535,129,944 | 0.535 |
| 2001 | 574,676,738 | 0.575 |
| 2002 | 607,157,233 | 0.607 |
| 2003 | 638,806,086 | 0.639 |
| 2004 | 658,527,693 | 0.659 |
| 2005 | 702,248,687 | 0.702 |
| 2006 | 717,221,522 | 0.717 |
| 2007 | 720,707,093 | 0.721 |
| 2008 | 746,336,192 | 0.746 |
| 2009 | 742,293,456 | 0.742 |
| 2010 | 787,756,851 | 0.788 |
| 2011 | 818,078,226 | 0.818 |
| 2012 | 787,546,482 | 0.788 |
| 2013 | 788,391,466 | 0.788 |
| 2014 | 793,594,249 | 0.794 |
| 2015 | 824,150,499 | 0.824 |
| 2016 | 889,949,544 | 0.890 |
| 2017 | 902,464,748 | 0.902 |
| 2018 | 896,962,898 | 0.897 |
| 2019 | 936,894,421 | 0.937 |
| 2020 | 907,769,701 | 0.908 |
| 2021 | 861,986,282 | 0.862 |
| 2022 | 881,527,969 | 0.882 |
| 2023 | 1,015,816,471 | 1.016 |
| 2024 | 1,064,051,362 | 1.064 |
| 2025 | 1,108,788,407 | 1.109 |
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
A parliamentary republic with a head of state, the O le Ao o le Malo, elected by the Legislative Assembly for a five-year term. A Prime Minister leads the government. The Fono is a single-chamber legislature, and customary chiefly institutions remain important in community life.
Three questions about Samoa.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.
