People group profile · PG018506
The Samoans of New Zealand
The Samoans of New Zealand, numbering about 177,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Polynesian ethnic group indigenous to the Samoan Islands, an archipelago in Polynesia that is politically and geographically divided between the Independent State of Samoa and American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States of America.
They are a diaspora people in the Polynesian people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Samoan.

Fast facts
- Country
- New Zealand
- Population
- 177,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Polynesian
- Primary language
- Samoan (smo)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 30% or Greater but Less than 40%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- Australia and New Zealand, Oceania
Where they live
Gospel status
The Samoans are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Samoans
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Protestantism · Christianity
40% adherents
Primary language
Samoan · Austronesian family
100% speak Samoan
Gospel resources in Samoan
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Bibles
- Bible Society of South Pacific · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Samoans
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Samoan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108580) is reported in 8 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samoans | Samoa | 219,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Samoans | United States | 70,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Samoans | American Samoa | 42,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Samoans | Fiji | 1,300 | No Longer Unreached |
| Samoans | Canada | 1,200 | No Longer Unreached |
| Samoans | Vanuatu | 350 | No Longer Unreached |
| Samoans | Tokelau | 150 | No Longer Unreached |
| Samoans | Tuvalu | 50 | No Longer Unreached |
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