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Australia-Oceania :: Samoa

- ## Introduction :: SAMOA

- 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.

- ## Geography :: SAMOA

- Location:
  Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
  Geographic coordinates:
  13 35 S, 172 20 W
  Map references:
  Oceania
  Area:
  total: 2,831 sq km
  land: 2,821 sq km
  water: 10 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Rhode Island
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  403 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
  Terrain:
  two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rugged mountains in interior
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m
  Natural resources:
  hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 12.4%
  arable land 2.8%; permanent crops 7.8%; permanent pasture 1.8%
  forest: 60.4%
  other: 27.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  occasional typhoons; active volcanism
  volcanism: Savai'I Island (elev. 1,858 m), which last erupted in 1911, is historically active
  Environment - current issues:
  soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

- ## People and Society :: SAMOA

- Nationality:
  noun: Samoan(s)
  adjective: Samoan
  Ethnic groups:
  Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood) 7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)
  Languages:
  Samoan (Polynesian) (official), English
  Religions:
  Protestant 57.4% (Congregationalist 31.8%, Methodist 13.7%, Assembly of God 8%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.9%), Roman Catholic 19.4%, Mormon 15.2%, Worship Centre 1.7%, other Christian 5.5%, other 0.7%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
  Population:
  197,773
  note: prior estimates used official net migration data by sex, but a highly unusual pattern for 1993 lead to a significant imbalance in the sex ratios (more men and fewer women) and a seeming reduction in the female population; the revised total was calculated using a 1993 number that was an average of the 1992 and 1994 migration figures (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 32.72% (male 33,393/female 31,324)
  15-24 years: 19.96% (male 20,253/female 19,217)
  25-54 years: 35.58% (male 36,374/female 33,993)
  55-64 years: 6.24% (male 6,283/female 6,057)
  65 years and over: 5.5% (male 4,730/female 6,149) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 74%
  youth dependency ratio: 64.9%
  elderly dependency ratio: 9.1%
  potential support ratio: 11% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 23.5 years
  male: 23.3 years
  female: 23.8 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.58% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Birth rate:
  20.87 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Death rate:
  5.32 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Net migration rate:
  -9.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 215
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 19.1% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: -0.24% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  APIA (capital) 37,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  51 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 19.57 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 15.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 73.46 years
  male: 70.58 years
  female: 76.48 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Total fertility rate:
  2.84 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  28.7% (2009)
  Health expenditures:
  7.5% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Physicians density:
  0.45 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
  Hospital bed density:
  1 beds/1,000 population (2005)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 97.5% of population
  rural: 99.3% of population
  total: 99% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.5% of population
  rural: 0.7% of population
  total: 1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 93.3% of population
  rural: 91.1% of population
  total: 91.5% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 6.7% of population
  rural: 8.9% of population
  total: 8.5% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  41.6% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Education expenditures:
  5.8% of GDP (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99%
  male: 99.1%
  female: 98.8% (2015 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 19.1%
  male: 15.6%
  female: 25.3% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75

- ## Government :: SAMOA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
  conventional short form: Samoa
  local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
  local short form: Samoa
  former: Western Samoa
  note: the name "Samoa" is composed of two parts, "sa" meaning sacred and "moa" meaning center, so the name can mean Holy Center; alternatively, it can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy
  Capital:
  name: Apia
  geographic coordinates: 13 49 S, 171 46 W
  time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
  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:
  Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship; it is observed in June
  Constitution:
  several previous (preindependence); latest 1 January 1962; amended several times, last in 2015 (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Samoa
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: TUI ATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007)
  head of government: Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi (since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister FONOTOE Pierre Lauofo (since 2011)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief of state on the prime minister's advice
  elections/appointments: chief of state indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 20 July 2012 (next to be held in 2017); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state, approved by the Legislative Assembly
  election results: TUI ATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by the Legislative Assembly
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats; 47 members - traditional family chiefs or matai and 2 members - part-Samoan or non-Samoan - directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: election last held on 4 March 2011 (next election to be held no later than March 2016)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HRPP 29, Tautua Samoa 13, independents 7
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 2 Supreme Court judges and meets once or twice a year); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several judges)
  judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the head of state upon the advice of the prime minister; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general and an appointee of the Minister of Justice; judges normally appointed until retirement at age 68
  subordinate courts: District Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land and Titles Courts; village fono or village chief councils
  Political parties and leaders:
  Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA]
  Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA]
  Samoa Progressive Political Party or SPPP [Toalepaiali'i Toesulusulu S'iueva POSE II]
  Tautua Samoa [Leatinu'u Salole LESA]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA
  International organization participation:
  ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA (since 4 December 2003)
  chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400J, New York, NY 10017
  telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196 through 6197
  FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
  consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: the US does not have an embassy in Samoa; the US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa
  embassy: Accident Corporation Building, 5th Floor, Matafele, Apia
  mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Matafele, Apia
  telephone: [685] 21436/21631/21452/22696
  FAX: [685] 22030
  Flag description:
  red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation; red stands for courage, blue represents freedom, and white signifies purity
  National symbol(s):
  Southern Cross constellation (five, five-pointed stars); national colors: red, white, blue
  National anthem:
  name: "O le Fu'a o le Sa'olotoga o Samoa" (The Banner of Freedom)
  lyrics/music: Sauni Liga KURESA
  note: adopted 1962; also known as "Samoa Tula'i" (Samoa Arise)

- ## Economy :: SAMOA

- Economy - overview:
  The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, tourism, agriculture, and fishing. It has a nominal GDP of $780 million. Agriculture, including fishing, employs roughly two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring fish, coconut oil, nonu products, and taro. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 1,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia, and is responsible for 65% of total exports. Industry accounts for nearly 15% of GDP while employing less than 6% of the work force. The service sector accounts for nearly three-quarters of GDP and employs approximately 50% of the labor force. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 132,000 tourists visited the islands in 2013. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa, and nearby American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. In December 2012, extensive flooding and wind damage from Tropical Cyclone Evan killed four people, displaced over 6,000, and damaged or destroyed an estimated 1,500 homes in Samoa's Upolu Island. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting the environment. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state and inflation is low, but the external debt is approximately 55% of GDP. Samoa became the 155th member of the WTO in May 2012, and graduated from least developed country (LDC) status in January 2014.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $997 million (2014 est.)
  $978.3 million (2013 est.)
  $989 million (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 204
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $827 million (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1.9% (2014 est.)
  -1.1% (2013 est.)
  1.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $5,200 (2014 est.)
  $5,100 (2013 est.)
  $5,200 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 164
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 11.2%
  industry: 30.2%
  services: 58.6% (2012 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  coconuts, nonu, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
  Industries:
  food processing, building materials, auto parts
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -2.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Labor force:
  49,180 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 65%
  industry: NA%
  services: NA%
  Unemployment rate:
  NA%
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $257.3 million
  expenditures: $300.2 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  31.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -5.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Fiscal year:
  June 1 - May 31
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -0.4% (2014 est.)
  0.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  10% (31 December 2014 est.)
  10.2% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Stock of narrow money:
  $113.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $104.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Stock of broad money:
  $366 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $318.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $371.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $319.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$66 million (2014 est.)
  -$21 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Exports:
  $24 million (2013 est.)
  $31.2 million (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Exports - commodities:
  fish, coconut oil and cream, nonu, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer
  Exports - partners:
  American Samoa 56.8%, Australia 18.3% (2014)
  Imports:
  $325.3 million (2013 est.)
  $308.4 million (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  Fiji 21.5%, NZ 20.5%, China 13.6%, South Korea 8.1%, Australia 5.9%, US 5.6%, Singapore 5.6% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $140.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $170.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Debt - external:
  $447.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  $422.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Exchange rates:
  tala (SAT) per US dollar -
  2.3318 (2014 est.)
  2.3318 (2013 est.)
  2.29 (2012 est.)
  2.3175 (2011 est.)
  2.4847 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: SAMOA

- Electricity - production:
  97.2 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Electricity - consumption:
  90.4 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 218
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  42,000 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  71.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  28.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  1,100 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  1,150 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  161,000 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199

- ## Communications :: SAMOA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 11,800
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 106,500
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: adequate
  domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 telephones per 100 persons
  international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)
  Broadcast media:
  state-owned TV station privatized in 2008; 4 privately owned television broadcast stations; about a half dozen privately owned radio stations and one state-owned radio station; TV and radio broadcasts of several stations from American Samoa are available (2009)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
  Television broadcast stations:
  2 (2002)
  Internet country code:
  .ws
  Internet users:
  total: 27,600
  percent of population: 14.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198

- ## Transportation :: SAMOA

- Airports:
  4 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 3
  under 914 m:
  3 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 2,337 km
  paved: 332 km
  unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Merchant marine:
  total: 2
  by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1
  foreign-owned: 1 (NZ 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Apia

- ## Military :: SAMOA

- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 47,906 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 38,260
  females age 16-49: 38,032 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 2,221
  female: 2,062 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  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

- ## Transnational Issues :: SAMOA

- Disputes - international:
  none

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