Background: New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and as a trust until 1962, when the islands became the first in the 20th century. a Polynesian nation that regained its independence. The country dropped the word “Western” from its name in 1997.
Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific, roughly on the pop route between Hawaii and New Zealand.
Geographical coordinates: 13° 35’S latitude, 172° 20′ W
Reference map: Oceania.
Area: total: 2,860 km2; land surface area: 2,850 km2; water surface area: 10 sq. km.
Comparative area: slightly smaller than the state of Rhode Island.
Land borders: 0 km.
Coastline: 403 km.
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles; territorial waters: 12 nautical miles.
Climate: tropical; rainy season from October to March, dry season from May to October.
Relief: narrow coastal plain, volcanic, rocky, precipitous mountains in the interior of the island.
Maximum and minimum heights: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m; highest point: Mt. Silisili 1,857 m.
Natural resources: hardwood, fish, hydropower.
Land use: arable land: 19%; cultivated land: 24%; pasture: 0%; forests and plantations: 47%; others: 10%.
Irrigated land: no data.
Natural hazards: rare typhoons, volcanic activity.
Actual problems of the environment: soil erosion.
International agreements on environmental protection: member: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed but not ratified: no.
Note to the section “Geography”:
Population
Population: 179,058 (July 2001 est.).
Age structure: under 14: 31.88% (male 29,009; female 28,069); 15 to 64 years old: 62.44% (men 70,491; women 41,304); over 65: 5.68% (male 4,739; female 5,446) (2001 est.).
Population growth: -0.23% (2001 est.).
Birth rate: 15.59 newborns / 1000 people. (2001 est.).
Mortality: 6.29 deaths / 1000 people. (2001 est.).
Migration: -11.62 people /1000 people (2001 est.).
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male/female; up to 15 years: 1.03 male/female; 15 to 64 years old: 1.71 male/female; over 65: 0.87 male/female; for the general population: 1.39 male/female (2001 est.).
Child mortality: 31.75 deaths/1000 births (2001 est.).
Life expectancy: for the general population: 69.5 years; men: 66.77 years; women: 72.37 years (2001 est.).
General birth rate: 3.4 children/wives. (2001 est.).
Proportion of the adult population infected with HIV: no data available.
Number of people infected with HIV: no data.
Mortality due to AIDS: no data available.
Nationality: noun: Samoan; adjective: Samoan.
Ethnic groups: Samoans 92.6%, Euronesians (descendants of Europeans and Polynesians) 7%, Europeans 0.4%.
Believers: Christians 99.7% (about half of the population is associated with the London Missionary Society; among them are Congregationalists, Catholics, Methodists, followers of the Church of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventists).
Language(s): Samoan (Polynesian), English.
Literacy: definition: persons aged 15 and over who can read and write; for the general population: 97%; men: 97%; women: 97% (1971 est.).
Politics
Conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa;
conventional short form: Samoa; former: Western Samoa.
State structure: constitutional monarchy, headed by a local leader. See politicsezine.com to know more about Samoa Political System.
Capital: Apia.
Administrative division: 11 districts: Aana, Aiga-i-le-Thai, Atia, Vaa-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano, Gagaemauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupaitea, Tuamasaga, Faasaleleaga.
Independence: from January 1, 1962 (until 1962 – the status of a United Nations Trust Territory administered by New Zealand).
National holiday: Independence Day, June 1 (1962); note – independence was obtained on January 1, 1962; on June 1, 1962 it was solemnly proclaimed.
Constitution: adopted January 1, 1962
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; possible judicial review of legislative acts affecting the fundamental rights of a citizen; does not accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.
Suffrage: from 21 years old; universal.
chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (co-ruler from 1 January 1962, became sole head of state 5 April 1963);
head of the government: Prime Minister TUI-LA’EPA Sailepe Maliepegaoi (TUILA’EPA Sailele Malielegaoi) (since November 24, 1998); note – TUILA’EPA has been Deputy Prime Minister since 1992; he became Prime Minister in November 1998 when the health of former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana deteriorated; the post of Deputy Prime Minister is now vacant;
government: cabinet, composed of 12 members appointed by the head of state on the advice of the prime minister; elections: after the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a new head of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly with a term of office of 5 years; The prime minister is appointed by the head of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly.
Legislature: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono) (49 seats: 47 members elected by indigenous people, 2 elected by non-indigenous residents; only chiefs [matai] can be elected to the Legislative Assembly; term of office – 5 years); elections: last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held in March 2006); election results: distribution of votes between parties: no data; distribution of seats among parties: HRPP 23, SNDP 13, independents 13.
Judiciary: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal.
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) (TUILA’EPA Sailele Malielegaoi, Chairman); Samoa All People’s Party (SAPP) (Matatumua MAIMOAGA [Matatumua MAIMOAGA]); Samoa National Development Party (SNDP) (TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman) (opposition); National Party of Samoa (FETU Tiatia, party secretary); Progressive Conservative Party of Samoa (LEOTA Ituau Ale).
Political influence groups and their leaders:
Participation in international organizations: АСР, AsDB, С, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user ), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer).
Diplomatic representation in the USA: Head of Mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE; office: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, New York 10017; phone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197; fax: [C (212) 599-0797.
US Mission: Chief of Mission: Ambassador Carol MOSELEY BRAUN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, based in Wellington, New Zealand); embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia; mailing address: R. O. Box 3430, Apia; phone: [685] 21631; fax: [685] 22030.
Description of the flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper quarter near the staff, in which there are five white five-pointed stars depicting the constellation Southern Cross.
