Samoa Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 181st
MPR SCORE: 139
MPR Index: 0.0139 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.9345 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.820 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Samoa ranks 181st in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. The country maintains no formal standing military, making it one of the few nations in the world to adopt a non-militarized defense model. Instead, national security is handled by the Samoa Police Service, which includes a Maritime Division and a Police Tactical Unit. These forces are responsible for law enforcement, coastal security, and domestic peacekeeping, supported by international defense guarantees—most notably through the Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand.
Samoa’s security doctrine emphasizes peaceful diplomacy, internal order, and regional cooperation, with a strong focus on disaster preparedness, civil protection, and partnership-driven resilience, especially in the Pacific Islands Forum context.
Military Strengths
Samoa’s strength lies in its non-militarized security model, external defense partnerships, and efficient internal policing and maritime enforcement.
1. Treaty-Based Security with New Zealand
The Treaty of Friendship (1962) ensures that New Zealand is responsible for Samoa’s external defense, with the consent of the Samoan government.
New Zealand provides military airlift support, coastal surveillance, and disaster logistics assistance when required.
2. Police-Led National Security Framework
The Samoa Police Service (SPS) handles all internal and civil security tasks, with a Maritime Division tasked with coastal patrol, interdiction, and rescue operations.
A Tactical Operations Squad addresses higher-risk law enforcement tasks, including riot control, VIP protection, and organized crime response.
3. Regional Cooperation and Disaster Preparedness
Samoa is an active member of the Pacific Islands Forum, contributing to regional security planning, climate-related resilience, and non-traditional security coordination.
Its forces participate in civil protection and relief training with Australia, New Zealand, and U.S. partners.
4. Strategic Peace Diplomacy
With no standing army, Samoa represents a peace-oriented foreign policy model, relying on soft power, treaty diplomacy, and multilateral frameworks to ensure sovereignty and national integrity.
Why Samoa Is Still Ranked 181st
No Formal Military Structure
Samoa has no army, navy, or air force, relying entirely on civilian police and foreign defense treaties for national security.
Extremely Limited Force Size and Equipment
The Samoa Police Service maintains approximately 700–800 personnel, with light arms, police vehicles, and a few patrol boats, but no combat or defense-grade weapon systems.
No Strategic or Deterrent Capability
Samoa lacks air defense, missile systems, or long-range surveillance assets, relying instead on foreign allies for situational awareness.
Dependence on Foreign Military Assistance
Samoa’s national defense and security policy is fundamentally externalized, with reliance on New Zealand, and to a lesser degree Australia and the U.S., for emergency security scenarios.
Conclusion
Samoa operates a non-militarized national security model, rooted in domestic policing, regional cooperation, and external defense guarantees—particularly with New Zealand. While it ranks low in conventional military metrics, its stability and security are upheld through treaty-based partnerships, disaster response capability, and efficient internal law enforcement. Samoa’s MPR ranking reflects minimal defense capacity, but acknowledges its role as a peaceful, diplomatically engaged state within the Pacific security architecture.
Military Strength and Force Projection
Active Security Personnel: 1,100 (police, tactical, and maritime units)
Reserve Personnel: None
Paramilitary Forces: 400 (Police Response Unit and Maritime Wing)
Army Personnel: 0
Navy Personnel: 100 (Maritime Police)
Air Force Personnel: 0
Ground Forces
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 0
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 0
Artillery Pieces (Towed & Self-Propelled): 0
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Air Force
Samoa has no air force or military aviation units. Airspace monitoring and protection are handled by New Zealand under bilateral arrangements.
Naval Forces (Maritime Wing)
Warships: 3+
Submarines: 0
Frigates/Corvettes: 0
Patrol Boats: 3+
Naval Vessel Breakdown:
Guardian-class and Pacific-class patrol boats (donated by Australia)
Missions include fisheries protection, sovereignty patrols, and humanitarian assistance
Missile Capabilities
Samoa does not possess missile systems or any form of heavy weaponry. National security is ensured through civil enforcement, maritime patrol, and external alliances.
Strategic Partnerships
Samoa relies on New Zealand for defense under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship, and has close partnerships with Australia, the United States, and regional Pacific Island nations. It regularly participates in disaster response drills, maritime security cooperation, and climate-resilience military exercises with foreign partners.
Military History & Combat Experience
Samoa has no history of conventional military combat, reflecting a tradition of non-aggression, external protection, and internal stability.
Colonial and Mandate Periods (19th–20th Century):
Samoa was successively colonized by Germany and then administered by New Zealand after World War I, with military matters controlled externally.
The country gained full independence in 1962, choosing not to establish a national military and instead signing the Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand, which endures to this day.Internal Policing and Stability:
Samoa has never experienced a military coup, civil war, or external conflict. Its internal security challenges have been managed through the Samoa Police Service, including natural disaster response, criminal enforcement, and event security.Regional and Civil Security Engagements:
While not a combat participant, Samoa contributes to Pacific Islands regional security discussions, humanitarian coordination drills, and climate-related risk management, often acting as a model for non-military national resilience.
Though Samoa has no combat or warfare experience, its security apparatus reflects a deliberate national philosophy of peace through law enforcement and partnership, sustained through strong civil institutions and treaty-based defense strategy.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~225,000 (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~90,000
Geographic Area: 2,842 km²
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Bordering Countries: None (island nation)
Coastline: 403 km
Climate: Tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Terrain: Narrow coastal plains with volcanic, rugged interior
Natural Resources: Fish, hydropower, arable land, forests
Proven Oil Reserves: None
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$10 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.1%
GDP (PPP): ~$1.3 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$5,800
External Debt: ~$500 million USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Stable; primarily for police and maritime security
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: No standing military; security provided by Samoa Police Service
Primary Defense Focus: Internal stability, maritime law enforcement, disaster response
Military Industry Base: None
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Minimal
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Samoa Police Service (includes Maritime Division and Tactical Operations Unit)
Missile Inventory Highlights: None
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Not applicable
Reservist Force Size: N/A
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: National Intelligence Unit under Ministry of Police and Prisons
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: New Zealand, Australia, regional Pacific cooperation
Airports (Total): 2 major international, several airstrips
Major Military Airports: Faleolo International Airport (dual-use in emergencies)
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: Small
Major Ports: Apia
Naval Infrastructure: Maritime police patrol vessels for EEZ enforcement
Naval Replenishment Capability: Limited coastal support
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: None
Roadways: ~2,300 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: Full reliance on imported refined fuels
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Minimal
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: None
Military Installations (Domestic): Apia (police HQ and tactical units)
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: New Zealand provides defense under Treaty of Friendship
Defense Alliances: Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand; Pacific Islands Forum security cooperation
Strategic Airlift Capability: None
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Extremely low
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: None
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Agriculture, fisheries, emergency construction
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Apia
Founding Date: January 1, 1962 (independence from New Zealand; first Pacific island to gain independence)
System of Government: Parliamentary republic with fa’amatai (chiefly system) influence
