NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Independent State of Samoa
former: Western Samoa
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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
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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 35 S, 172 20 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 2,944 sq km
water: 10 sq km land: 2,934 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Rhode Island |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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403 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October) |
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Terrain:
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narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m |
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Natural resources:
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hardwood forests, fish, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 19.43%
permanent crops: 23.67% other: 56.9% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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occasional typhoons; active volcanism |
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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occupies an almost central position within Polynesia |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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178,173 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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.) |
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Median age:
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total: 23.7 years
male: 26.3 years female: 20.2 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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-0.27% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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15.41 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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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 |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 70.11 years
male: 67.35 years female: 73 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.21 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4% |
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Religions:
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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) |
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Languages:
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Samoan (Polynesian), English |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7% male: 99.6% female: 99.7% (2003 est.) |