Samoa

Samoa

Introduction

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

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

13 35 S, 172 20 W

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 2,831 sq km
country comparison to the world: 178 land:2,821 sq km
water:10 sq km

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, rocky, 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

arable land: 21.13%
permanent crops:24.3%
other:54.57% (2005)

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

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 59.9% (Congregationalist 34.8%, Methodist 15%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, Mormon 12.7%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

Population

193,161 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.4% (male 35,233/female 33,060)
15-64 years:59.4% (male 59,366/female 55,376)
65 years and over:5.2% (male 4,472/female 5,654) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 22.1 years
male:22 years
female:22.3 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.6% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Birth rate

22.5 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Death rate

5.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Net migration rate

-11.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211

Urbanization

urban population: 20% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

APIA (capital) 36,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.051 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.8 male(s)/female
total population:1.06 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 22.74 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 87 male:26.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female:18.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.4 years
country comparison to the world: 128 male:69.55 years
female:75.39 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.22 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Health expenditures

7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 81

Physicians density

0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 145

Hospital bed density

0.97 beds/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 148

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 92% of population
rural: 88% of population
total: 89% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8% of population
rural: 12% of population
total: 11% of population (2000)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.7%
male:99.6%
female:99.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:13 years (2005)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 12.2%
country comparison to the world: 89 male:10.6%
female:15.5% (2001)

Government

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

name: Apia
geographic coordinates:13 50 S, 171 44 W
time difference:UTC-11 (6 hours behind 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

1 January 1962

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

Suffrage

21 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: TUIATUA 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 consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of state on the prime minister’s advice
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:chief of state elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term (no term limits)

election last held on 15 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
election results:TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats, 47 members elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation

only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates

members serve five-year terms)
elections:election last held on 4 March 2011 (next election to be held not later than March 2016)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – HRPP 29, Tautua Samoa 13, independents 7

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Supreme Court

District Court

Land and Titles Court

Political parties and leaders

Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA]

Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA]

Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]

Samoa Progressive Political Party or SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]

Tautua Samoa [Vaelua Eti ALESANA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA
chancery:800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, 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: 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 anthem

name: “O le Fu”a o le Sa”olotoga o Samoa” (The Banner of Freedom)
lyrics/music:Sauni Iiga KURESA
note:adopted 1962

the anthem is also known as “Samoa Tula’i” (Samoa Arise)

Economy

Economy – overview

The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. 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. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP

122,000 tourists visited the islands in 2007. 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. 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. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.055 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200 $1.055 billion (2009 est.)
$1.112 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$556 million (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

0% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189 -5.1% (2009 est.)
5.1% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$5,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141 $5,500 (2009 est.)
$5,900 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 11.6%
industry:13.1%
services:75.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force

66,270 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: NA%
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: $201.2 million
expenditures:$281.7 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

36.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-14.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24 6.3% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.725% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 12.108% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$105.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184 $80.43 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$323.6 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181 $282.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$256.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177 $242.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

Industries

food processing, building materials, auto parts

Industrial production growth rate

2.8% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 120

Electricity – production

108 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

Electricity – consumption

98.58 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

Oil – consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Oil – imports

1,125 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Current account balance

-$590,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 -$1.14 million (2007 est.)

Exports

$35.07 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201 $25.11 million (2006)

Exports – commodities

fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer

Exports – partners

American Samoa 45.4%, Australia 30.1% (2010)

Imports

$280 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 196 $207.9 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs

Imports – partners

NZ 21.8%, China 16.6%, Fiji 16.2%, Singapore 13%, Japan 7.5%, Australia 6.3%, US 4.6% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$209.5 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162 $165.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$235.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176 $177 million (2004)

Exchange rates

tala (SAT) per US dollar -
NA (2007)
2.7594 (2006)
2.7103 (2005)
2.7807 (2004)
2.9732 (2003)

Transportation

Airports

4 (2010)
country comparison to the world:188

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 3
under 914 m:3 (2010)

Roadways

total: 2,337 km
country comparison to the world: 171 paved:332 km
unpaved:2,005 km (2001)

Merchant marine

total: 2
country comparison to the world: 147 by type:passenger/cargo 1, cargo 1
foreign-owned:1 (NZ 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Apia

Military

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 expenditures

NA

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

Disputes – international

none