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Independent State of Samoa

former: Western Samoa


 
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© 1996-2006
Bob Starkgraf

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.
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GEOGRAPHY

Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 2,944 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 19.43%
permanent crops: 23.67%
other: 56.9% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
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PEOPLE

Population:
178,173 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.4% (male 26,613; female 25,715)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 72,135; female 42,903)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,980; female 5,827) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.7 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 20.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
-0.27% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
15.41 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
-11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.68 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 29.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 34.98 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.11 years
male: 67.35 years
female: 73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.21 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions:
Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
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