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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

28.3% (male 25,548; female 24,668)

15-64 years:

65.5% (male 72,820; female 43,563)

65 years and over:

6.3% (male 5,096; female 6,019) (2004 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.67 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.85 male(s)/female

total population:

1.39 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

noun:

Samoan(s)

adjective:

Samoan

conventional long form:

Independent State of Samoa

conventional short form:

Samoa

former:

Western Samoa

• Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962);
• note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated

• 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 Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)

head of government:

• Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA (since 1996);
• note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister from 1992 until he assumed the prime ministership in 1996, when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health;
• TUILA'EPA was confirmed as prime minister (November 1998) after TOFILAU died;
• 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 Tanumafili II MALIETOA, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term;
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly

• Supreme Court;
• Court of Appeal;
• Land and Titles Court

• Christian Democratic Party [leader NA];
• Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA, chairman];
• Samoa All People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua MAIMOANA];
• Samoan National Development Party or SNDP [LE MAMEA Ropati, chairman] (opposition);
• Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary];
• Samoan Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale];
• Samoan United Independents Party or SUIP [Dr. Saleimoa VAAI]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA

chancery:

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

telephone:

[1] (212) 599-6196, 6197

FAX:

[1] (212) 599-0797

chief of mission:

the Ambassador to New Zealand, Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLS, is accredited to Samoa

embassy:

Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, 5th Floor, Apia

mailing address:

P. O. Box 3430, Apia

telephone:

[685] 21631/22696

FAX:

[685] 22030

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

general assessment:

adequate

domestic:

NA

international:

country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

total:

790 km

paved:

332 km

unpaved:

458 km (1999 est.)

total:

1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,091 GRT/8,127 DWT

by type:

cargo 1

foreign-owned:

Germany 1

registered in other countries:

2 (2004 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