Prime Minister of Samoa
| Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa Palemia o le Malo Tuto‘atasi o Sāmoa | |
|---|---|
Coat of Arms of the Independent State of Samoa | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Status | Head of Government |
| Abbreviation | PM |
| Member of | Legislative Assembly of Samoa, Cabinet of Samoa |
| Seat | Apia |
| Appointer | O le Ao o le Malo (Head of State) |
| Term length | Five years, renewable indefinitely |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Samoa |
| Precursor | Leader of Government Business |
| Inaugural holder | Fiamē Matā'afa Fiame Mulinu'u II |
| Formation | 22 May 1875 (Prior to colonisation) 1 October 1959 (Shortly before independence) |
| Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa |
| Salary | 78,000 USD annually[1] |
| Website | [1] |
The prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa (Samoan: Palemia o le Malo Tuto’atasi o Sāmoa) is the head of government of Samoa. The prime minister is a member of the Samoan Legislative Assembly. They are appointed by the O le Ao o le Malo (Head of State) for a five-year term.[2]
The incumbent is Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt since 16 September 2025.
List of prime ministers (since 1959)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected (Parliament) | Term of office | Political party | O le Ao o le Malo (Head(s) of state) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| 1 | Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II (1921–1975) |
1961 (1st) 1964 (2nd) 1967 (3rd) |
1 October 1959 | 25 February 1970 | 10 years, 147 days | Independent | Meaʻole Tanumafili II | |
| 2 | Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV (1922–1983) |
1970 (4th) | 25 February 1970 | 20 March 1973 | 3 years, 23 days | Independent | Tanumafili II | |
| (1) | Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II (1921–1975) |
1973 (5th) | 20 March 1973 | 20 May 1975 † | 2 years, 61 days | Independent | Tanumafili II | |
| — | Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV (1922–1983) Acting |
— (5th) | 21 May 1975 | 24 March 1976 | 308 days | Independent | Tanumafili II | |
| 3 | Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi (born 1938) |
1976 (6th) 1979 (7th) 1982 (8th) |
24 March 1976 | 13 April 1982 | 6 years, 20 days | Independent | Tanumafili II | |
| 4 | Vaʻai Kolone (1911–2001) |
— (8th) | 13 April 1982 | 18 September 1982 | 158 days | HRPP | Tanumafili II | |
| (3) | Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi (born 1938) |
— (8th) | 18 September 1982 | 31 December 1982 | 104 days | Independent | Tanumafili II | |
| 5 | Tofilau Eti Alesana (1924–1999) |
— (8th) 1985 (9th) |
31 December 1982 | 30 December 1985 | 2 years, 364 days | HRPP | Tanumafili II | |
| (4) | Vaʻai Kolone (1911–2001) |
— (9th) 1988 (10th) |
30 December 1985 | 8 April 1988 | 2 years, 100 days | HRPP | Tanumafili II | |
| (5) | Tofilau Eti Alesana (1924–1999) |
— (10th) 1991 (11th) 1996 (12th) |
8 April 1988 | 23 November 1998 | 10 years, 229 days | HRPP | Tanumafili II | |
| 6 | Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi (born 1945) |
— (12th) 2001 (13th) 2006 (14th) 2011 (15th) 2016 (16th) |
23 November 1998 | 24 May 2021 | 22 years, 182 days | HRPP | Tanumafili II Tufuga Efi Va'aletoa Sualauvi II | |
| 7 | Fiame Naomi Mata'afa (born 1957) |
2021 (17th) | 24 May 2021 | Incumbent | 4 years, 115 days | FAST | Va'aletoa Sualauvi II | |
References
- ↑ Hill, Bruce (28 September 2016). "Samoan leaders salaries published by newspaper". ABC Radio Australia.
- ↑ "Samoa's ruling party faces new threat-after nearly 40 years in power". The Guardian. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.