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.
Population
192,001
Country comparison to the world:185
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 2010 est.)
Nationality
Noun:Samoan(s)
Adjective:Samoan
Ethnic groups
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood) 7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)
Religions
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English
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
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ 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 Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA (since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
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 31 March 2006 (next election to be held not later than March 2011)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HRPP 35, SDUP 10, independents 4
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 Party or SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party or SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]
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, 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 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:none; 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
