Samoa

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.

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

0-14 years:

33% (male 30,288; female 29,323)

15-64 years:

61% (male 69,566; female 40,402)

65 years and over:

6% (male 4,623; female 5,264) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.72 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.88 male(s)/female

total population:

1.39 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Samoan(s)

adjective:

Samoan

conventional long form:

Independent State of Samoa

conventional short form:

Samoa

former:

Western Samoa

• 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

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 TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi (since 24 November 1998);
• note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister since 1992;
• he assumed the prime ministership in November 1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health;
• the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant

cabinet:

Cabinet consists of 12 members, 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

• 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]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE

chancery:

800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017

telephone:

[1] (212) 599-6196, 6197

FAX:

[1] (212) 599-0797

chief of mission:

Ambassador Carol MOSELEY BRAUN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)

embassy:

5th floor, Beach Road, Apia

mailing address:

P. O. Box 3430, Apia

telephone:

[685] 21631

FAX:

[685] 22030

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

total:

790 km

paved:

332 km

unpaved:

458 km (1996 est.)

• Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces;
• informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship