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Samoa country profile

Country overview

Samoa, known as Western Samoa until 1997, consists of nine volcanic islands, two of which - Savai'i and Upolu - comprise more than 99 percent of the land. The islands lie about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand.

Despite limited natural resources and a vulnerability to cyclones, Samoa has one of the fastest growing economies in the Pacific region.

Country profile

New Zealand seized Western Samoa from Germany in 1914, and in 1946 it became a UN trust territory, administered by New Zealand. A resistance movement to both German and New Zealand rule, known as the Mau movement, helped to edge the islands toward independence. In 1962, the citizens of Samoa voted for independence, the first country in the Pacific region to do so

Samoa’s economy is highly dependent on agriculture, which employs two-thirds of the population. Key exports include coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. Manufacturing and tourism in particular are growing sectors, though family remittances from Samoan workers employed overseas remain important.

Samoa has a very young population, with 41 percent under the age of 15. Providing productive employment for an increasing number of school leavers is a growing challenge, consequently, disillusionment amongst youth is being increasingly expressed through suicide, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, crime and violence.

Stats and Facts

• Capital: Apia
• Population: 182,000 (UN 2005)
• Language: Samoan, English
• Religion: Christianity
• Adult literacy: 99 percent
• Life expectancy: 70 years
• Government: mix of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
• Access to safe water: 88 percent

Reference: Statistics from the UNDP Human Development Report and The World Factbook.

External links

• NZAID in Samoa
• UNDP in Samoa
• UNDP Human Development Report statistics
• Secretariat of the Pacific Community
• The World Factbook - Samoa