About Samoa

The Pearl of the Pacific

Time

GMT +13

Language

Gagana Samoa & English

Currency

Samoan Tālā

Population

205,557 (Samoa Census 2021)

OUR HISTORY

Samoa has a long and fascinating history spanning more than 3,000 years. Samoan mythology and legends say they descended from the gods and heavens to inhabit these islands.

Discover the Intriguing History of Samoa

Samoa has a long and fascinating history spanning more than 3,000 years. The islands have experienced an array of new arrivals and occupations, including Western Europeans and the introduction of Christianity, through to the contentious New Zealand political control. Here’s an overview of the makings of modern Samoa and how this small island nation has become the fascinating country it is today.

OUR ECONOMY

The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, tourism, agriculture, and fishing.

The Samoan Economy

Samoa has a nominal GDP of $844 million. Agriculture, including fishing, furnishes 90% of exports, featuring fish, coconut oil, nonu products, and taro. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Industry accounts for nearly 22% of GDP while employing less than 6% of the workforce. The service sector accounts for nearly two-thirds of GDP and employs approximately 50% of the labor force. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 132,000 tourists visited the islands in 2013.

The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. In September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa and nearby American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. In December 2012, extensive flooding and wind damage from Tropical Cyclone Evan killed four people, displaced over 6,000, and damaged or destroyed an estimated 1,500 homes on Samoa’s Upolu Island.

The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the country’s financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting the environment. Foreign reserves are relatively healthy and inflation is low, but external debt is approximately 45% of GDP. Samoa became the 155th member of the WTO in May 2012, and graduated from least developed country status in January 2014

SITES & ATTRACTIONS

Samoa has a large number of interesting sites and attractions for visitors to experience the country’s rich and ancient culture, learn about its fascinating history and explore some of its natural wonders.