Statistical information Western Samoa 1997

Western Samoa in the World
top of pageBackground: New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962 when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century.
top of pageLocation: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map reference:
OceaniaAreaTotal: total:2,860 km²; land:2,850 km²; water:10 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone:200 nm; territorial sea:12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
ElevationExtremes: lowest point:Pacific Ocean 0 m; highest point:Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish
Land use: arable land:19%; permanent crops:24%; permanent pastures:0%; forests and woodland:47%; other:10%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 219,509 (July 1997 est.); note:other estimates range as low as 162,000
Growth rate: 2.34% (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun:Western Samoan(s); adjective:Western Samoan
Ethnic groups: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English
Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Demographic profileAge structure: 0-14 years:40% (male 44,281; female 42,876); 15-64 years:56% (male 64,433; female 59,006); 65 years and over:4% (male 4,225; female 4,688) (July 1997 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.34% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 30.4 births/1000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.63 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.22 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: soil erosion
Air pollutantsSex ratio: at birth:1.05 male(s)/female; under 15 years:1.03 male(s)/female; 15-64 years:1.09 male(s)/female; 65 years and over:0.9 male(s)/female; total population:1.06 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 33 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population:69.09 years; male:66.7 years; female:71.6 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.82 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: definition:age 15 and over can read and write; total population:97%; male:97%; female:97% (1971 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Independent State of Western Samoa; conventional short form: Western Samoa
Government type: constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital: Apia
Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: National Day, 1 June (1962)
Constitution: 1 January 1962
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state:Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963); head of government:Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988); Deputy Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi (since NA 1992); cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice; elections:upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); elections:last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held 26 April 2001); election results:percent of vote by party - HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%, independents 23.7%; seats by party - HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: chief of mission:Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE; chancery:820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10,017; telephone:[1] (212) 599-6,196, 6,197; FAX:[1] (212) 599-0797
From the us: chief of mission:Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Western Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand); embassy:5th floor, Beach Road, Apia; mailing address:P.O. Box 3,430, Apia; telephone:[685] 21,631; FAX:[685] 22,030
Flag description
: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy of Western Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. Increasingly, tourism is becoming a significant source of revenue, earning approximately $34 million in 1995. While registering an overall economic improvement in 1995, however, the country continues to struggle with a series of natural disasters from the early 1990s which wiped out the nation's infrastructure as well as its then-major export crop, taro root. Agriculture continues to be a key source of wealth for Apia, employing more than one-half of the labor force, and furnishing 90% of exports. The bulk of these export earnings comes from the sale of coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. Family remittances also play a key role in economic viability for the island nation - in 1995, remittances totaled $34.9 million, four times export earnings. The economy did well in 1996, supported by a steady flow of foreign aid and remittances.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 6.7% (1995 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,900 (1995 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: coconuts, bananas, taro, yams
Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: total:45,635 (1986 est.); by occupation:agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues:$118 million; expenditures:$128 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (FY96/97)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$8.7 million (f.o.b., 1995); commodities:coconut oil and cream, taro, copra, cocoa; partners:New Zealand 44%, Australia 22%, American Samoa, Germany
Imports: total value:$91 million (c.i.f., 1995); commodities:intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%; partners:New Zealand 37%, Australia 21%, US/American Samoa 13%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $178.3 million (1995 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.4570 (January 1997), 2.4618 (1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994), 2.5681 (1993), 2.4655 (1992)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 29,000 kW (1990)
Production: 60 million kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 287 kWh (1995 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 7,500 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: domestic:NA; international:satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $N/A
Percent of gdp: NA%
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 3 (1996 est.)
With paved runways: total:3; 2,438 to 3,047 m:1; under 914 m:2 (1996 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: total:1 roll-on/roll-off cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,838 GRT/5,536 DWT (1996 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs