Samoa Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Samoa
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Normal Precautions
Updated March 10, 2025
Samoa recorded 6.3 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2018, a rate that is moderate by global standards. That places Samoa #59 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Oceania average of 5.9 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide rates have fallen 25% over the past decade (from 8.3 in 2009). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Samoa at Level 1 of 4: Exercise Normal Precautions.
Homicide Rate
6.3 /100k
Safety Rank
#137 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 1 of 4
Data Year
2018
Homicide Rate Trend (2009-2018)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have fallen 25% over the past decade (from 8.3 in 2009). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Samoa Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Samoa, the homicide rate for men is 11.8× higher than the rate for women — 11.4 vs 1.0 per 100,000 (2018).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Samoa:
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. Exercise normal precautions in Samoa. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Samoa. If you decide to travel to Samoa: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts from the U.S. Embassy. It makes it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Samoa. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel.
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Safety Guidance for Samoa
Practical safety information for visitors, from US State Department country information (last updated March 10, 2025).
Crime
You should remain aware of your surroundings, lock your doors at night, and do not leave your belongings unattended. Incidents of petty theft and robberies are common in Samoa. Some incidents have involved residential break-ins. While rare, violent assaults, including sexual assaults, have occurred in Samoa. Remain alert near Apia’s downtown bars and restaurants. Some violent incidents involving foreigners and Samoans have occurred in that area. No specific groups have been targeted, and there have been no reported racially motivated or hate crimes against U.S. citizens. Police in Apia generally respond quickly to incidents. Dial 911 for emergency assistance. However, there is a very limited police presence elsewhere in Samoa. In areas outside of Apia order is maintained primarily by local village authorities. Police response outside of Apia is not as quick or reliable.
International Financial Scams
See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information.
Victims of Crime
U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. Report crimes to the local police at 911 and contact the U.S. Embassy at 21631. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime. See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas . We can: Help you find appropriate medical care. Assist you in reporting a crime to the police. Contact relatives or friends with your written consent. Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during and after the local investigation. Provide a list of local attorneys. We do not endorse or recommend any specific attorneys. Provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S. Provide information about the Samoa Victims Support Group . This group helps victims of crime in Samoa with local law enforcement liaison and other related matters.
Domestic Violence
U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the Embassy for assistance.
Tourism
The tourism industry is not well regulated. Safety inspections for equipment and facilities are rare. Dangerous areas/activities are not always labeled properly. Staff may not be trained or certified by the host government or recognized authorities. If you get injured, you will likely only find limited medical treatment in or near major cities. First responders cannot reach areas outside major cities to provide urgent medical care. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .
About This Data
Homicide figures are intentional homicides per 100,000 people, compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and published by the World Bank (indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5). Homicide is the most reliably comparable crime statistic across countries because definitions of other offences (assault, theft, robbery) vary widely between national legal systems and reporting practices.
Travel advisory levels are issued by the US Department of State and updated continuously. They reflect risks to travelers including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, and natural disasters — not only crime rates. Countries report crime data with different lags; the most recent available year is shown for each metric.
Samoa Population & Demographics
Population of 218,019, growth trends, economy, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samoa safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Samoa at Level 1 of 4 (Exercise Normal Precautions). The homicide rate of 6.3 per 100,000 is moderate by global standards.
What is the crime rate in Samoa?
Samoa has an intentional homicide rate of 6.3 per 100,000 people (2018, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #59 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Samoa?
Samoa is currently at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Samoa compare to other countries?
Samoa's homicide rate of 6.3 per 100,000 is above the world average of 5.2 and above the Oceania average of 5.9.