AfricaAsia NorthAsia South and SoutheastAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastNorth AmericaPacificAmerican SamoaCook IslandsFijiFrench PolynesiaKiribatiMarshall IslandsMicronesiaNauruNew CaledoniaNiuePalauPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTokelauTongaTuvaluVanuatu
Start writing the country or territory name in the box. Typing more letters narrows the search. Click "go" or hit "Enter" to go to the information paper on the country or territory.
(We don't have information papers on all countries and territories.)
Official Name - The Independent State of Samoa
Land Area - 2,934 sq km on two main islands
Population - 180,900 (2004 estimate)
Capital City - Apia
Religions - Mostly Christian: 47% of the population affiliated to the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, while the Roman Catholic and Methodist Churches account for 20% of the population each.
Official Languages - Samoan, English
Currency - Samoan Tala SAT$ (or Samoan dollar) = 100 sene (cents)
Exchange rate - SAT$1 = NZ$0.48 (as at 26 September 2008)
EEZ - 120,000 sq km
Political System - Westminster-style Cabinet government
National government - The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) holds 37 of the 49 seats in the Fono.
National legislature - Unicameral, 49-member Fono; 47 members are elected by all Samoans aged 21 or over to represent 41 constituencies, while the remaining two are elected from the electoral rolls made up of voters with no village affiliation; the Fono sits for five-year terms
Last election - 31 March 2006
Next election - 2011
Head of State - His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi: Elected 18 June 2007 for a five year term following the death of the late HH Malietoa Tanumafili II
Council Of Deputies -
Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa II
Head of Government - Prime Minister Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi
- Also responsible for Foreign Affairs, Immigration, Office of Attorney General
Key Opposition MPs - Asiata Sale’imoa Va’ai (Leader of the Samoa Democratic Unity Party(SDUP))
Main political parties - SDUP and Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). There is no officially recognised formal Opposition in Parliament.
GDP - SAT$1.03 billion (September 2007)
Real GDP growth - 2.6% (in 2006)
Exports - SAT$181,067,042 (Ministry of Finance, 2006)
Imports - SAT$764,454,618 (Ministry of Finance, 2006)
Main exports (fob 2008) - Food stuffs, coconut oil and cream, automotive parts and taro
Main imports (fob 2008) - Machinery and equipment, industrial supplies and food stuffs
Merchandise trade deficit $92.5 million in 2006
Consumer Price Inflation 3.8% (year end December 2006)
Gross external debt SAT$456m (48% of GDP) (FY 2004/05)
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$94,053 for year to June 2008
Main Exports - Insulated wire and cable; timber and sheep meat
NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$5,262 for year to June 2008
Main Imports - prepared foods (namely, coconut cream) and copper and aluminiumtop of page
The special relationship between New Zealand and Samoa is underpinned by the Treaty of Friendship concluded when Samoa became independent, after a period of New Zealand trusteeship from 1914 to 1962. The relationship is a rich and multi-stranded one, with close linkages between New Zealand and Samoa underpinned by the large number of New Zealanders of Samoan descent or origin living in New Zealand (an estimated 120,000 Samoans now live in New Zealand, making up around 50% of this country’s Pacific Island population).
The first major European settlements occurred in the 1830s for missionary work and trade and in 1899 Samoa became a German colony. New Zealand assumed control of Samoa following the outbreak of the First World War and the islands became a mandated territory of New Zealand under a League of Nations mandate. Between the wars there was considerable agitation for the removal of foreign control over Samoan affairs. After the Second World War, Samoa was administered by New Zealand as a United Nations trust territory and measures were gradually introduced to prepare for self-government. In 1962 Samoa became the first Pacific Island country to gain independence. With effect from 4 July 1997, a constitutional amendment changed the name of the country to the Independent State of Samoa ( or just Samoa). Previously it had been known as Western Samoa.
In June 2007, His Highness Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi was appointed Head of State for a five year term. This followed the death of the late His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, who had been appointed Head of State for life under the 1962 Constitution. The government is a parliamentary democracy with a parliamentary term of five years. The Prime Minister, who is chosen by Parliament and appointed by the Head of State, leads a Cabinet of twelve members. The governing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) is dominant in Samoan politics. It came to office in 1988, at that time led by the late Hon Tofilau Eti Alesana. It was re-elected in April 1991, 1996, 2001 and again on 31 March 2006.
Tofilau’s period in office was associated with significant constitutional reform. Universal suffrage was introduced with the 1991 elections. Before that, only maitai (chiefs) could vote for all but two of the seats. (The two other members were elected on the basis of universal suffrage by the citizens of non-Samoan descent.) Candidates for election to Parliament must still hold matai titles.
Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi was appointed Prime Minister in November 1998 after Tofilau resigned due to failing health. He has continued with the reforms in the public service, which involves the merging of some ministries and creation of a new body, the Planning for Urban Management Agency (PUMA).
A determined programme of economic reforms initiated during the 1990s earned Samoa the reputation as the Pacific’s model economy, and placed Samoa’s economy among the fastest growing of the Pacific Island economies. Although there is much to admire, Samoa is currently experiencing a balance of payments deficit which corresponds with a prolonged liquidity squeeze and reduced growth as Samoa prepares to host the August/September 2007 South Pacific Games. The financial strains associated with the Games have been exacerbated by declining export receipts for agriculture and a perennially weak manufacturing sector. Nevertheless, the fishing industry has shown a recent resurgence and tourism is booming, growing 18 percent last year.
The maintenance of macro-economic stability is not, however, being taken for granted. In his recent budget address, Finance Minister Lee Hang stressed the need for Samoa to apply responsible fiscal and monetary policies in order to arrest the balance of payments decline. Reinvigoration of the agriculture and manufacturing sectors are key budget priorities.
Samoa’s small open economy is driven by tourism, remittances, fisheries, construction – and to a lesser extent – agriculture and small-scale manufacturing. Private sector growth is constrained by a narrow resource base, limited infrastructure, and isolation, dependence on fuel imports, a lack of skilled labour, and a small domestic market. In the area of traded goods and services, key challenges include expanding the particularly narrow export/foreign exchange base.
Only 12% of the total population in Samoa are engaged in formal paid employment. Two thirds of the potential labour force is absorbed by subsistence village agriculture, a dominant sector in the Samoan economy. The main food crops are coconuts, breadfruit, bananas, cocoa and taro. Some progress has been made with measures to diversify the agricultural base and the fisheries sector has shown major growth in the last 5 years with a 31% share of exports revenues in March 2007.
Samoa’s macroeconomic performance remains highly vulnerable to economic shocks and natural disasters. Cyclones in 1990, 1991, and 2004 caused severe economic setbacks. Increased dependence on tourism, with its largely coastal infrastructure could cause even more significant cyclone-related setbacks in the future. Given these challenges, Samoa is heavily dependent on overseas development assistance that accounts for about 14% of GDP. Samoa has high levels of external debt equivalent to approximately 43% of GNP, 90% of which is owed to multilateral lenders.
The growth in GDP has reduced significantly since 2005. The most recent budget confirms that growth has declined from 5.2% in 2005 to 2.6% in 2006. Economic growth is estimated by the Finance Minister to lift to 3.4% for the 2007-2008 period. The average growth rate of 3.2% over the past 5 years has rested on the Government’s commitment to a number of large capital works projects together with private sector investment in the hotel and restaurant industry and church construction. Significant capital investment in the telecommunications sector has also been a factor.
In the last financial year there has been a surge in imports by ST$88m – largely associated with preparation for the September 2007 South Pacific Games (SPG) – coupled with a drop in exports by ST$3.74 million which has led to an increase in the merchandise trade deficit of $92.5 million.
The Finance Minister, Niko Lee Hang, has noted that it is imperative that Samoa consolidates its efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability by applying responsible fiscal and monetary policies to meet the pressures Samoa faces. Lee Hang has indicated that the Government would be reviewing carefully sectors that will be the source of growth for the next Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS). Reinvigoration of the agriculture and manufacturing sectors will be a key focus.
Since 1992 Samoa has pursued an active policy of seeking direct foreign investment. It has had some success, attracting the Japanese firm Yazaki, which produces wire harnesses (for motor vehicles) for export to Australia. Yazaki is the largest single employer in Samoa. The Government has embarked on a campaign to increase the efficiency of the public sector and is fostering private sector development, including through reductions in tariffs and other costs which impact negatively on business.
Tourism, although highly vulnerable to any cyclone, has developed into Samoa’s top foreign exchange earner (excluding remittances) – and not without justification. Samoa’s natural advantages of sun, scenery, and culture have drawn unprecedented numbers of tourists (largely from New Zealand and Australia) making the most of cheaper flights offered by both Polynesian Blue and Air New Zealand. Increased arrivals have contributed to the sector’s 18% annual growth rate in the year ending April 2007.
Some of the gains in the tourism sector can reasonably be attributed to the new joint venture airline, Polynesian Blue, which has performed well and notched up a ST$2.2m profit in its first year of operation with a jump in tourists from New Zealand and Australia of 33 and 18 percent respectively.
Samoa is one of the highest recipients of remittances in the world as a proportion of GDP. This is a by-product of large overseas Samoan communities in New Zealand, American Samoa, the United States and Australia. For the period 2006-2007 remittances made a solid contribution of ST$225m. As Samoa’s single largest source of foreign exchange, remittances are key to ensuring that Samoa’s current account deficit remains sustainable
The Government owned telecommunications provider, SamoaTel, continues to earn significant sums in New Zealand and Australia through the sale of their pre-paid ‘Malo Cards’ which allow calls to be made back to Samoa, at a reduced rate, with a percentage of the profit going to SamoaTel. SamoaTel recently provided the Government with a ST$2m dividend payout and there are signs that they are competing successfully with Digicel, a newcomer to the mobile market.
Agriculture remains an important, mainly subsistence, activity in Samoa, particularly in the villages. Copra, cocoa, kava, and nonu are exported. Some fruit crops such as mango and breadfruit currently face export difficulties due to phytosanitary concerns. New Zealand MAF has recently agreed an import health standard for Samoan papaya, enabling trade in this product to commence. However the sector contributes only minimally to foreign exchange receipts.
Transport links are of vital importance to Samoa's continued economic development. New Zealand - Samoa air services are governed by the Multilateral Agreement on the Liberalisation of International Air Transportation (MALIAT), which Samoa became a member of in November 2002. Samoa was the first non-APEC country to join and at that point the earlier Open Skies Arrangement with New Zealand was suspended.
In 2005 Polynesian Blue (a joint venture between Pacific Blue and the international arm of the Samoan government owned, Polynesian Airlines) was formed. To date the venture has adjusted well to the new competitive environment which includes the Pacific Express product by Air New Zealand that offers low fares to Pacific destinations. Samoa’s move to enter the joint venture arrangement for international air services was a bold decision by the Samoan government to reform its national carrier in the interests of growing inbound tourism and avoiding future calls on the public purse.
Samoa has no standing army, with responsibility for security residing in Police. New Zealand’s relationship with Samoa in this area remains close. The New Zealand Army and RNZAF have both carried out training exercises in Samoa in the past. Through NZDF’s Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP), New Zealand has provided training for the Samoan Police, including in preparation for deployments of Samoan civilian police officers (numbering 25 and 40) to the United Nations in East Timor. Other defence cooperation includes maritime surveillance flights by RNZAF aircraft over Samoa’s EEZ (with Samoan officials on board). The defence attaché in Suva is accredited to Apia. The last Mutual Assistance talks were held in October 2005.
Samoa’s education system comprises an eight-year primary and five-year secondary programme. Education is not compulsory for children older than 14. Literacy rates are high compared to other developing countries, and figures show a 65% participation rate for 15 to 19 year olds at secondary school. Pre-school education is on an informal basis and is largely organised at a village level. Samoa Polytech and the National University of Samoa offer tertiary studies. The University of the South Pacific’s School of Agriculture is located in Apia. top of page
Immigration is an important element of the bilateral relationship. Under the 1982 Protocol to the Treaty of Friendship New Zealand has a specific obligation to consult Samoa on immigration (and citizenship) matters affecting Samoa. A special Samoa immigration quota introduced in 1970 by the New Zealand Government allows up to 1,100 Samoans to be granted New Zealand permanent residence annually, in addition to those entering New Zealand under normal immigration arrangements.
Samoa is one of the five countries in the Pacific selected for facilitation to support their participation in the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) which will allow workers to come to New Zealand for up to seven months to work in the horticulture and viticulture sectors. All Forum Island countries, apart from Fiji, are eligible and receive preference under the scheme, but New Zealand has worked intensively with five to help kick start the policy. It is hoped that the provision of seasonal work opportunities will contribute to Samoa's economic development.
The New Zealand Police and Samoa Police Service have shared a long and close association. There is active cooperation between the two services in both the bilateral and regional contexts. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Police Commissioners in the margins of the inaugural Joint Ministerial Consultations in Apia on 18 March 2005. One of the outcomes of that MOU is to develop a joint plan of action covering collaborative activities between the two services over a one to two year period. This plan will be updated through annual consultations, the last of which was held in November 2006.
Samoa provides good opportunities for New Zealand’s exporters - the market was worth NZ$97 million to New Zealand in 2007. This was made up mostly of insulated wire and cable, timber, sheep meat, leather/textile-covered goods, plastic tubes/hoses, dairy products, iron and non-steel alloy, frozen bovine meat, furniture, and medicaments. New Zealand accounts for about six percent of Samoa’s exports, valued at about NZ$3.4 million in 2007. Samoa’s main exports to New Zealand include prepared foods (namely, coconut cream), nuts, beer, fish, melons, scrap metal, prepared meat, fruit juices, insulated wire and cable, and coconut, palm kernel and babassu oil. American Samoa is Samoa’s largest export market, with exports focused on fish.
New Zealand concluded negotiations with Samoa on Samoa's World Trade Organisation (WTO) bilateral accession negotiation in late January 2008. The aggreement was signed by Minister Phil Goff and Misa Telefoni in early March 2008.
Samoa is a committed and active participant in regional affairs. It supports the concept of regionalism, and sees the Pacific Islands Forum as the primary body for political consultations among the countries of the region. In 1971 Samoa was a founding member of the Forum. It is host to the South Pacific Regional Environment Programmes (SPREP), and is an active member of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), USP, and the Pacific Community (SPC). In this context Samoa has participated in dialogue on regional issues. It was host country for the 1999 Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting (FEMM), and in August 2000 hosted the first ever meeting of Forum Foreign Ministers. In June 2001 it hosted the Forum Trade Ministers’ Meeting. Samoa hosted the 35th Pacific Islands Forum in August 2004. Samoa will also host the South Pacific Games in September 2007.
Beyond its immediate region Samoa maintains a modest but active profile on the wider international scene. It is a member of the United Nations, and has been particularly active on climate change issues through its leadership of AOSIS, the Association of Small Island States. In 2000, Samoa participated in its first peacekeeping mission, when it sent 25 Police Officers to East Timor under UN auspices. Samoa’s former Permanent Representative at the UN, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, was an authoritative figure in the debate on climate change and related environmental issues. Slade was appointed to the International Criminal Court for 2002-2006. Samoa is also a member of the Commonwealth, UNESCO, FAO (both of which have regional offices in Apia), WHO, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. Samoa initiated action to accede to the World Trade Organisation in 1998.top of page
The relationship between Samoa and New Zealand is a close one with strong personal and family ties as well as close political, economic and sporting links. Projections done by Statistics New Zealand estimate that 120,000 Samoans now live here (making up 50% of the Pacific Island community in New Zealand). Many Samoan leaders have been educated here, including the Prime Minister and the Head of State, who studied at the University of Auckland.
An important element of the bilateral relationship is the unique 1962 Treaty of Friendship, concluded shortly after Samoa achieved independence. In this treaty New Zealand agreed to "consider sympathetically" requests from Samoa for "technical, administrative and other assistance", and both governments agreed to consult as appropriate on “matters of mutual interest and concern”. Samoa attaches great importance to this treaty, not only for its practical value but also for its symbolic importance as recognition of the special ties between the two countries.
In 2004, the two Prime Ministers agreed to establish regular whole-of-government consultations at Ministerial level between New Zealand and Samoa in order to strengthen the relationship, and in 2005 a number of initiatives, including the New Zealand Prime Minister’s fellow from Samoa, were launched to reinforce the Treaty of Friendship. The first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council was held in March 2005 in Apia, and the second is to be held in Wellington on 24 November 2006.
In addition to New Zealand, Australia, the People’s Republic of China and the United States (headed by a Chargé) maintain resident missions in Apia. Chile, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Spain and Japan are represented by Honorary Consuls. Samoa is the headquarters for the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and also host to a number of UN agencies (including UNESCO and FAO). The EU maintains a technical office headed by a seconded Attaché.
The relationship between Samoa and New Zealand is a close one with strong personal and family ties as well as close political, economic and sporting links. Projections done by Statistics New Zealand estimate that 131,100 Samoans now live here (making up 50% of the Pacific Island community in New Zealand). Many Samoan leaders have been educated in New Zealand, including the Head of State and the Prime Minister.
An important element of the bilateral relationship is the unique 1962 Treaty of Friendship, concluded shortly after Samoa achieved independence. In this treaty New Zealand agreed to "consider sympathetically" requests from Samoa for "technical, administrative and other assistance", and both governments agreed to consult as appropriate on “matters of mutual interest and concern”. The Treaty is unique – the only one of its kind ever concluded by New Zealand or Samoa – and remains of symbolic importance as recognition of the special ties between the two countries.
In 2004, the two Prime Ministers agreed to establish regular whole-of-government consultations at Ministerial level between New Zealand and Samoa in order to strengthen the relationship, and in 2005 a number of initiatives, including the New Zealand Prime Minister’s fellow from Samoa, were launched to reinforce the Treaty of Friendship. The first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council was held in March 2005 in Apia, and the second was held in Wellington on 24 November 2006.
In addition to New Zealand, Australia, the People’s Republic of China and the United States (headed by a Chargé) maintain resident missions in Apia. Chile, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Spain and Japan are represented by Honorary Consuls. Samoa is the headquarters for the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and also host to a number of UN agencies. top of page
NZAID, the Government of Samoa (GoS) and AusAID have developed a Joint Samoa Programme Strategy (JSPS) 2006 - 2010. In accordance with a set of agreed harmonisation principles, the partners have committed to aligning the JSPS with the partner government’s own Strategy for the Development of Samoa 2005-2007. NZAID and AusAID have agreed to aim for greater harmonisation with Government of Samoa systems and processes and between donors.
New Zealand, along with Australia and Japan is a significant donor in Samoa. However, the combined efforts of NZAID and AusAID under the JSPS are around $20 million per year and this represents the highest level of donor assistance to Samoa.
The current NZAID programme focuses on:
There are regular Ministerial visits in both directions.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Samoa [external link].
