Internet country code [time series]

.ws

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

8,225 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

4,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate domestic: NA international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

11,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2,700 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (2002)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

Budget [time series]

revenues: $105 million expenditures: $119 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2001-02)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

tala (SAT)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

SAT (former WST code is still in wide use)

Debt - external [time series]

$197 million (2000)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$42.9 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, and agriculture and fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. The decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; about 88,000 tourists visited the islands in 2001. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, meantime protecting the environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

97.74 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

105.1 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

tala per US dollar - 2.9732 (2003), 3.3763 (2002), 3.478 (2001), 3.2864 (2000), 3.0132 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$14 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer

Exports - partners [time series]

Australia 63.6%, Indonesia 15.2%, US 5.1% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

June 1 - May 31

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 14% industry: 23% services: 63% (2001 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$113 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

New Zealand 19.8%, Fiji 17.8%, Australia 15.4%, Japan 11.9%, US 4.7%, Singapore 4.3% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.8% (2000)

Industries [time series]

food processing, building materials, auto parts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (2001 est.)

Labor force [time series]

90,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

NA

Oil - consumption [time series]

1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%; note - substantial underemployment

Area [time series]

total: 2,944 sq km land: 2,934 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Climate [time series]

tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)

Coastline [time series]

403 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 35 S, 172 20 W

Geography - note [time series]

occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 21.2% permanent crops: 24.38% other: 54.42% (2001)

Location [time series]

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Natural resources [time series]

hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior

Administrative divisions [time series]

11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

Capital [time series]

Apia

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1962

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa conventional short form: Samoa former: Western Samoa

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: the Ambassador to New Zealand, Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLS, is accredited to Samoa embassy: Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, 5th Floor, Apia mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia telephone: [685] 21631/22696 FAX: [685] 22030

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197 FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963) head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA (since 1996); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister from 1992 until he assumed the prime ministership in 1996, when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health; TUILA'EPA was confirmed as prime minister (November 1998) after TOFILAU died; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice elections: upon the death of Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation

Government type [time series]

constitutional monarchy under native chief

Independence [time series]

1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Land and Titles Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly Eurasian, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms) elections: election last held 3 March 2001 (next election to be held not later than March 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HRPP 30, SNDP 13, independents 6

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Christian Democratic Party [leader NA]; Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA, chairman]; Samoa All People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua MAIMOANA]; Samoan National Development Party or SNDP [LE MAMEA Ropati, chairman] (opposition); Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary]; Samoan Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]; Samoan United Independents Party or SUIP [Dr. Saleimoa VAAI]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

NA

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

Military - note [time series]

Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28.3% (male 25,548; female 24,668) 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 72,820; female 43,563) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 5,096; female 6,019) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.69 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

3

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

12

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 28.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 33.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

Samoan (Polynesian), English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.41 years male: 67.64 years female: 73.33 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.6% female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 24.2 years male: 26.8 years female: 20.8 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Samoan(s) adjective: Samoan

Net migration rate [time series]

-11.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

177,714 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.25% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

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)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.67 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.11 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

4 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 790 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 458 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,091 GRT/8,127 DWT by type: cargo 1 foreign-owned: Germany 1 registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa