Samoa

Independent State of Western Samoa

constitutional monarchy under native chiefIndependence 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN

Samoa as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 92 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalApia

Position13 35 S, 172 20 W

Area2,860 sq km

LocationOceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about

Populationas each edition published it

219,509 people July 1997 est. · 186,031 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.34% 1997 est. · 2.37% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 67.58 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.82 children per woman 1997 est. · 4.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

33 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 48 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,900 1995 est. · $690 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.7% 1995 est. · -4.5% in 1993

Geography

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about | one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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Land useshare of 2,860 sq km

arable land 19%permanent crops 24%permanent pastures 0%forests and woodland 47%other 10%

Area

2,860sq km

land: 2,850 sq kmwater: 10 sq kmslightly smaller than Rhode Island

Coastline

403km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

1,857m

Mauga Silisililowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Climate

tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)

Terrain

narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior

Environment - international agreements

party to :: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified :: none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields

Population

219,509

(July 1997 est.)note: other estimates range as low as 162,000growth rate: 2.34% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

30.4Death

5.63Net migration

-1.22

Ethnic groups

Samoan 92.6%Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood)Europeans 0.4%

Literacy

97%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: 97%female: 97% (1971 est.)

Age 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.)

Sex 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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population :: 69.09 years
male:: 66.7 years
female :: 71.6 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Western Samoan(s)
adjective:: Western Samoan

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)

Government

Constitutional monarchy under native chief; Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

45.17%

HRPP 45.17%SNDP 27.1%independents 23.7%last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held 26 April 2001)

Country name

conventional long form:: Independent State of Western Samoa
conventional short form:: Western Samoa

Government type

constitutional monarchy under native chief

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)

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

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

Political parties and leaders

Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman;
Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman;
Samoan Progressive Conservative Party, LEOTA Ituau Ale;
Samoa All People's Party (SAPP), Matatumua MAIMOAGA

International 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 representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
chancery:: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017
telephone:: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197

Diplomatic representation 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 3430, Apia
telephone :: [685] 21631

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

The economy of Western Samoa has traditionally | been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from | overseas, and agricultural exports.

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Real growth rate

6.7%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

(1995)

Labor force

45,635

(1986 est.)by occupation : agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)

Debt - external

$178.3million

(1995 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$118 millionExpenditures

$128 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)

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.