Independence Day (Samoa)

Independence Day is a public holiday in Samoa, and it is observed on June 1 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary when Samoa gained its independence in 1962.

Samoa is a Polynesian island country, and people started to inhabit the islands about 3000 years ago. Europeans started to visit the islands in the early 18th century. In the following years, the United States, the United Kingdom, and German fought for the control of the Samoan Islands, and the 3 countries signed a treaty that formally partitioned the islands in 1899.

The eastern parts became American Samoa and the western islands became German Samoa. The United Kingdom vacated all claims in Samoa but gained returns from other islands.

New Zealand seized control of the islands from the German authorities in 1914 during World War I. Due to the pressure from the Samoan independence movement, New Zealand granted Samoa independence on January 1, 1962. Although Samoa gained independence on January 1, the celebration of Independence Day is on June 1 each year.

The following is the list of Independence Day in Samoa from 2022 to 2026.

Please check more public holidays in Samoa: