Samoa

In brief

Samoa is a country in Polynesia (Oceania). Its capital is Apia. With 219,306 inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 176th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 2,842 km². An island nation, Samoa has no land border.

GDP per capita stands at $5,873 (2025), 111th in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 71.8 years (2024). 18% of the population lives in cities.

History of Samoa

Settled about 3,000 years ago, the Samoan islands were contested in the late 19th century by Germany, the United States and Britain; in 1899 the west became German and the east American. New Zealand occupied Western Samoa in 1914; the 1918 influenza killed about a fifth of the population, and the non-violent Mau movement called for independence. It came on 1 January 1962, a first in the Pacific. In 2011 the country moved across the date line and skipped 30 December.

Geography of Samoa

Two large volcanic islands, Upolu, home to Apia, and Savai’i, plus a few islets. Mount Silisili (1,858 m), on Savai’i, is the highest point.

Map of Samoa

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Flag of Samoa

The flag of Samoa is red and blue. Its official proportions are 1:2 (height to width).

• Red75%
• Blue24%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

Red, with a blue canton bearing the Southern Cross in white. Red evokes courage, blue freedom, white purity.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Samoa” and “Flag of Samoa”.

See also: flags with a star.

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Fact file

Economy and society