Samoa 

Introduction

The Independent State of Samoa is a unitary state located in the south Pacific to the northeast of Fiji. It comprises two major islands and seven small islands, five of which are uninhabited. There is a population of 180,741 on an area of 2,830 sq km. 

The legislature is unicameral comprising 49 members. Forty-seven are elected to represent 41 constituencies. They are elected by universal adult suffrage but may be contested only by matai title-holders (chiefs of extended families of whom there are about 19,000). The two other members are elected on a separate voters’ roll comprising citizens of European descent. The parliament is known as the Fono and sits for a five-year term. 

Summary

The local government system in Samoa is based on the traditional matai structures. The village fono have few exclusive responsibilities for service delivery, instead sharing the vast majority with one or more spheres of government. The village fono does though have significant socio-cultural responsibilities within the community.

Download full profile of Samoa (  82K PDF)