Samoans speak Samoan, which is a Polynesian language. It is the national language of Samoa and an official language, alongside English, in both Samoa and American Samoa. Samoan is the first language for most of the population of the Samoa Islands, with approximately 260,000 people speaking it in the archipelago. It is also widely spoken across the Pacific region, heavily so in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. According to the 2021 census in Australia, the Samoan language is spoken in the homes of 49,021 people. There are approximately 470,000 Samoan speakers worldwide, 50 percent of whom live in the Samoan Islands. Samoan is the third-most spoken language in New Zealand after English and Māori. Although English is an official language in both Samoa and American Samoa and is widely spoken, Samoan shares equal billing and is used by most people for everyday conversation.