Prostitution laws in SamoaMalo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa
In Samoa, the Crimes Act 2013 criminalises both selling and buying sex. Having, agreeing to or offering sexual intercourse or sexual connection for gain or reward carries up to three years (s. 72), and offering or agreeing to pay another person for sex carries up to five years (s. 73), with exceptions for spouses. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries up to ten years; a brothel is any place used for prostitution 'whether by 1 woman or more' (s. 70). Living on the earnings of another person's prostitution, or soliciting for any sex worker, carries ten years (s. 74), and procuring a woman for sex for gain seven years (s. 75).
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Under the Crimes Act 2013 both parties commit an offence: a person who has, agrees to or offers sex 'for gain or reward' faces three years (s. 72), and a person who offers or agrees to pay for sex faces five years (s. 73). Brothel-keeping (s. 70), living on the earnings of another's prostitution and soliciting for a sex worker (s. 74) carry ten years.[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | A person who has sexual intercourse or sexual connection, or agrees or offers to, with another person for gain or reward is liable to up to three years' imprisonment. A woman cannot be convicted for sex with her husband.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | A person who offers or agrees to pay or reward another person for sexual intercourse or sexual connection is liable to up to five years' imprisonment. A man cannot be convicted in respect of sex with his wife.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Keeping or managing, or knowingly assisting in the management of, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as one; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used carry up to ten years. A brothel is any house, room or place used for prostitution 'whether by 1 woman or more', so a single worker's premises can qualify.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of another person's prostitution, or soliciting for any sex worker whether paid or not, carries up to ten years. Procuring, or agreeing or offering to procure, a woman or girl for gain or reward to have sex with a man who is not her husband carries seven years.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | No advertising-specific offence was found, but a sex worker's advertisement is an 'offer' under s. 72, and anyone who knowingly 'solicits for any prostitute' (for example by placing or publishing ads for them) commits the s. 74 offence, with up to ten years.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
A person who has sexual intercourse or sexual connection, or agrees or offers to, with another person for gain or reward is liable to up to three years' imprisonment. A woman cannot be convicted for sex with her husband.[1]
Note. Read from the Crimes Act 2013 as enacted (copy on the Government of Samoa's mygov portal); later amendments were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
A person who offers or agrees to pay or reward another person for sexual intercourse or sexual connection is liable to up to five years' imprisonment. A man cannot be convicted in respect of sex with his wife.[1]
Note. Read from the Crimes Act 2013 as enacted (copy on the Government of Samoa's mygov portal); later amendments were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Keeping or managing, or knowingly assisting in the management of, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as one; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used carry up to ten years. A brothel is any house, room or place used for prostitution 'whether by 1 woman or more', so a single worker's premises can qualify.[1]
Note. Read from the Crimes Act 2013 as enacted (copy on the Government of Samoa's mygov portal); later amendments were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of another person's prostitution, or soliciting for any sex worker whether paid or not, carries up to ten years. Procuring, or agreeing or offering to procure, a woman or girl for gain or reward to have sex with a man who is not her husband carries seven years.[1]
Note. Read from the Crimes Act 2013 as enacted (copy on the Government of Samoa's mygov portal); later amendments were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No advertising-specific offence was found, but a sex worker's advertisement is an 'offer' under s. 72, and anyone who knowingly 'solicits for any prostitute' (for example by placing or publishing ads for them) commits the s. 74 offence, with up to ten years.[1]
Confidence: low. Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability. Applying 'offers' and 'solicits for any prostitute' to advertising is an inference from the wording; no case was found.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Crimes Act 2013 (No. 10 of 2013) Crimes Act 2013 (No. 10 of 2013) s. 70 · s. 72 · s. 73 · s. 74 · s. 75 | Brothel keeping (s. 70), prostitution (s. 72), solicitation by clients (s. 73), living on earnings and soliciting for a sex worker (s. 74) and procuring for gain (s. 75).[1] |
Sources
- Crimes Act 2013 (No. 10 of 2013). Government of Samoa (mygov.gov.ws), 2013. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026