MigrantoSamoan Diaspora
119.3K Samoans live abroad — the #149 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 99% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Oceania is the leading destination region at 100%
118.8K
525
24
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat, with real migration data
Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Samoa.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 2 residents of Samoa has emigrated — 119.3K out of 218K, representing 54.7% of the population.
New Zealand is the primary destination for emigrants
New Zealand attracts 53% of all emigrants from Samoa, while the second-largest destination receives just 33%.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 64% to 53%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 64643 |
| 1995 | 69079 |
| 2000 | 77905 |
| 2005 | 84416 |
| 2010 | 88359 |
| 2015 | 97923 |
| 2020 | 109124 |
| 2024 | 119313 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Samoa as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Samoa
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Samoans move to?
Most Samoans have moved to New Zealand, Australia and American Samoa — these three countries account for about 99% of all Samoans living abroad.
How many Samoans live abroad?
Around 119.3K Samoans live abroad, making it the #149-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from Samoa changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Samoa has grown from 97.9K to 119.3K people, a growth of about 22%.
Where to live?
Match a country to your priorities
Explore other countries
See where people move around the world