PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — King Malietoa Tanumafili II, one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs, died at a hospital in Samoa, the prime minister's office said yesterday. He was 94.

Malietoa had sat on the Samoan throne ever since the country, which lies west of the U.S. territory of American Samoa, gained independence from New Zealand in 1962.

That made him the world's third-longest-reigning living monarch after Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has reigned since 1946, and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the throne in 1952.

The king died Friday night at Tupua Tamasese National Hospital in Apia, where he had been for about a week. Details on the cause of death were not immediately available.

Vaasatia Poloma Komiti, chief executive officer of the prime minister's office, announced the king's death on state-run television.

In American Samoa, the governor said his staff briefed him on the king's death.

"I offer my condolence to the people and government of Samoa on the passing of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili," said Gov. Togiola T.A. Tulafono. "May God guide the people of Samoa as they mourn his passing."

Many American Samoans considered him to be the father of the two Samoas and he was a frequent visitor to the territory's annual Flag Day festivities.

The king succeeded to the Malietoa title in 1940, when his father passed away. He was appointed an adviser to the New Zealand governor in Samoa the same year.

Malietoa was made the joint head of state with Tupua Tamasese Meaole when Samoa gained independence in 1962 and he became sole head of state a year later when Tupua Tamasese passed away.

He held the post for life. His successor, however, will be elected by the legislature to a five-year term as stipulated in the Samoan constitution.

Malietoa was educated in Samoa at the government-run Leififi School and attended St. Stephen's College and Wesley College in New Zealand.

He was an active sportsman from the time of his youth, playing rugby and cricket. He was reputed to be a good boxer.

Malietoa visited China on a state visit in 1976, and traveled to West Germany, South Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom. He also traveled to Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Hawai'i, and attended the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

He was among the foreign dignitaries who attended the funeral service of Japanese Emperor Hirohito.

In 1977, Queen Elizabeth II visited Samoa on the royal yacht Britannia for one day and presented Malietoa with the Collar Badge and Star of the G.C.M.G., the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George.

Malietoa is survived by two sons and two daughters. His wife, Lili Tunu, passed away in 1986.

The islands of Samoa lie in the South Pacific about halfway between Hawai'i and New Zealand. Home to 200,000 people, Samoa's total land area is slightly smaller than Rhode Island. It lies to the west of American Samoa, which became a U.S. territory in 1900.