Samoa

Samoa 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.

Samoa Information

• Population: 177,714 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Samoan(s) adjective: Samoan
• Location:: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
• 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)
• Ethnic Groups:: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 2,944 sq km water: 10 sq km land: 2,934 sq km
• Coast Line: 403 km
• Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
• Terrain: two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 21.2% permanent crops: 24.38% other: 54.42% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
• Natural Resources: hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
• Highways: total: 790 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 458 km (1999 est.)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
• Airports: 4 (2003 est.)