Samoa

Legislative Assembly

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Date of independence: 1961
Year of first woman in parliament: 1964

Notes: 1964: NOTE ON MODALITIES UNCLEAR
Year of first woman speaker: Not applicable

Notes: No woman has occupied the function of Speaker in the country.

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote: 1948
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Restricted
Detail of restrictions: Only matais and non-Samoan (of European or Chinese decent) men and women who had completed all residence and citizenship formalities had the right to vote

Women’s right to vote: 1990
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal
Detail of restrictions: Between 1948 and 1990, only matais and non-Samoan (of European or Chinese decent) men and women who had completed all residence and citizenship formalities had the right to vote

Notes: Prior to independence, under the administration of New Zealand, women were granted the right to vote, with restrictions, in 1948. This right was extended to universal suffrage in 1990.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1990
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Universal
Detail of restrictions: Between 1948 and 1990, only matais and non-Samoan (of European or Chinese decent) men and women who had completed all residence and citizenship formalities had the right to vote and stand for election

Notes: Prior to independence, under the administration of New Zealand, women were granted the right to vote and stand for election, with restrictions, in 1948. This right was extended to universal suffrage in 1990.