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. The country dropped the 'Western' from its name in 1997.

Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S 172 20 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 403 km

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 hydropower

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Population: 179,466 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: -0.22% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

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)

Population growth rate: -0.22% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 15.59 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 6.24 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -11.59 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Environment
Current issues: soil erosion

Infant mortality rate: 32.75 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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 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

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by Samoans 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi chairman]; Samoa All People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua MAIMOAGA]; Samoan National Development Party or SNDP [TAPUA Tamasese Efi chairman] (opposition); Samoan Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]

International organization participation: ACP AsDB C ESCAP FAO G-77 IBRD ICAO ICFTU ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IMF IMO Intelsat (nonsignatory user) IOC ITU OPCW Sparteca SPC SPF UN UNCTAD UNESCO UPU WHO WIPO WMO

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: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid private family remittances from overseas and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports featuring coconut cream coconut oil and copra. Outside of a large automotive wire harness factory the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector; more than 70,000 tourists visited the islands in 1996. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector encouragement of investment and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances.

Real gdp growth rate: 1.8% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,100 (1998 est.)

Agriculture products: coconuts bananas taro yams

Industries: timber tourism food processing fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1996 est.)

Labor force: 82,500 (1991 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 65%
By occupation services: 30%
By occupation industry: 5% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.2% (1998 est.)

Exports: $20.3 million (f.o.b. 1998)
Commodities: coconut oil and cream copra fish beer
Partners: American Samoa Australia New Zealand US Germany

Imports: $96.6 million (f.o.b. 1998)
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs
Partners: Australia New Zealand Japan Fiji US

Debt external: $156 million (1997 est.)

Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1 - 3.0460 (January 2000) 3.0120 (1999) 2.9429 (1998) 2.5562 (1997) 2.4618 (1996) 2.4722 (1995)

Electricity
Production: 65 million kWh (1998)
Consumption: 60 million kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 8,000 (1994)
Mobile cellular: 1200 (1994)

Internet
Service providers isps: NA

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $N/A
Percent of gdp: NA%

Airports: 3 (1999 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Disputes international: none