Oceania

Flag of Samoa

Samoa is a Polynesian island nation in the South Pacific consisting of two main islands and several smaller ones. It was the first Pacific Island country to gain independence, in 1962. Samoan culture is deeply centred on fa'a Samoa (the Samoan way), which emphasises community, family, and respect for elders. In 2011, Samoa shifted its position relative to the International Date Line to better align its trading week with Australia and New Zealand.

CapitalApia
RegionOceania
Current flag since1949
Main coloursRed, Blue, White
Populationabout 220,000
Areaabout 2,800 km²
GeographyIsland nation
Flags in history4

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Samoa means

Red stands for courage, blue for freedom and white for purity. The Southern Cross shows Samoa's place in the South Pacific. The flag was adopted in 1949, when the fifth star was added, and kept at independence in 1962, when Samoa became the first Pacific island nation to gain independence.

More about the flag

Samoa's flag dates from 1948, when the islands were a United Nations trust territory administered by New Zealand; the fifth star was added in 1949. Samoa became independent on 1 January 1962. The stars are drawn in different sizes, as in the real Southern Cross. In 2011 the country moved west of the International Date Line, skipping 30 December, to share its working week with Australia and New Zealand.

How to recognise it

Red with a blue rectangle in the upper left containing five white stars of the Southern Cross.

Did you know?

In 2011 Samoa moved to the west of the International Date Line, skipping 30 December entirely, so it is now one of the first countries to see each new day.

Easily confused with

Samoa's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

New Zealand

Flag history of Samoa

Every flag that has flown over Samoa, from today back through time.

1949–present

Flag of Samoa

In 1949 a fifth, smaller star was added to complete the Southern Cross on the red field. The design was kept after independence in 1962 and has remained unchanged.