Background: 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.

Area
Total: total: 2,860 km²; land: 2,850 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 403 km; 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

Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish

Land use: arable land: 19%; permanent crops: 24%; meadows and pastures: 0%; forest and woodland: 47%; other: 10%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Population: 199,652 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.37% (1993 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 half of population associated with the; London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist,; Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Population growth rate: 2.37% (1993 est.)

Birth rate: 33 births/1000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.14 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

Environment
Current issues: subject to occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Infant mortality rate: 38.6 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: male: 65.19 years; female: 70.08 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.28 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971); total population: 97%; male: 97%; female: 97%

Country 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

Independence: 1 January 1962 (from UN trusteeship administered by New; Zealand)

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

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal, but only matai (head of family) are able to run for the Legislative Assembly

Executive branch: chief, Executive Council, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,; IMF, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Neroni SLADE; chancery: (temporary) suite 510, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,005; telephone: (202) 833-1743
From the us: chief of mission: the ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Western; Samoa; embassy: address NA, 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

Economy overview: Agriculture employs more than half of the labor force, contributes 50% to GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of export earnings comes from the sale of coconut oil and copra. The economy depends on and construction of the first international hotel is under way.

Real gdp growth rate: -4.5% (1990 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $690 (1990)

Agriculture products: accounts for 50% of GDP; coconuts, fruit (including bananas, taro, yams)

Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate -4% (1990 est.); accounts for 14% of GDP

Labor force: 38,000; by occupation: agriculture 22,000 (1987 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $95.3 million; expenditures $95.4 million, including capital expenditures of $41 million (FY92)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $9 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: coconut oil and cream 54%, taro 12%, copra 9%, cocoa 3%
Partners: NZ 28%, American Samoa 23%, Germany 22%, US 6% (1990)

Imports: $75 million (c.i.f., 1990)
Commodoties: intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%
Partners: New Zealand 41%, Australia 18%, Japan 13%, UK 6%, US 6%

Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.5681 (January 1993), 2.4655 (1992), 2.3975 (1991), 2.3095 (1990), 2.2686 (1989), 2.0790 (1988)

Electricity
Production: 29,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 240 kWh per capita (1990)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $N/A, NA% of GDP

Merchant marine: 1 roll-on/roll-off ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,838 GRT/5,536 DWT; total: 3; usable: 3; with permanent-surface runways: 1; with runways over 3,659 m: 0; with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1; with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0

Disputes international: none