MigrantoSamoan Diaspora
119.3K Samoans live abroad — 55% of the population of Samoa
Samoan diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 99% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 63075 |
| Australia | 38964 |
| American Samoa | 15931 |
| Greece | 483 |
| Fiji | 308 |
| Tonga | 208 |
| Tokelau | 202 |
| Niue | 44 |
| Denmark | 29 |
| Guinea | 24 |
| Micronesia | 20 |
| Cook Islands | 10 |
| Bulgaria | 7 |
| Norway | 3 |
| Finland | 2 |
| Tuvalu | 2 |
| Hungary | 1 |
| Slovakia | 0 |
| Lithuania | 0 |
By region
100% of the diaspora lives in Oceania
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Key facts
The Samoan diaspora in numbers
1 in 2 people born in Samoa lives abroad
119.3K people born in Samoa now live in other countries — 54.7% of a population of 218K.
Most Samoans abroad live in New Zealand
53% of the diaspora lives in New Zealand, while the next country accounts for just 33%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 64% to 53%.
Samoan diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 64643 |
| 1995 | 69079 |
| 2000 | 77905 |
| 2005 | 84416 |
| 2010 | 88359 |
| 2015 | 97923 |
| 2020 | 109124 |
| 2024 | 119313 |
Largest communities over time
Samoans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | New Zealand | Australia | American Samoa | Greece | Fiji |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 41467 | 7863 | 14674 | 2 | 271 |
| 1995 | 42238 | 10039 | 16157 | 4 | 267 |
| 2000 | 46450 | 13171 | 17642 | 6 | 266 |
| 2005 | 50170 | 16595 | 16738 | 233 | 267 |
| 2010 | 50657 | 20554 | 15842 | 476 | 287 |
| 2015 | 53004 | 27802 | 15813 | 447 | 296 |
| 2020 | 58292 | 33647 | 15880 | 455 | 302 |
| 2024 | 63075 | 38964 | 15931 | 483 | 308 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Samoans in each country has changed since the selected year
Samoans among immigrants in other countries
Where Samoans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Samoans live outside Samoa?
Around 119.3K Samoans live abroad, the world's #149 largest diaspora.
Where do most Samoans abroad live?
Most Samoans live in New Zealand, Australia and American Samoa — these three countries account for about 99% of all Samoans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Samoan population outside Samoa?
New Zealand is home to the largest Samoan community abroad — 63.1K people, about 53% of all Samoans living abroad.
What share of the population of Samoa lives abroad?
About 55% of the population of Samoa lives abroad — that's 119.3K out of a total population of 218K.
Is the Samoan diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Samoans living abroad has grown from 97.9K to 119.3K, about 22%.
Where does the data on the Samoan diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Samoa who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Samoa
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