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.
Country profile: Samoa
The Independent State of Samoa, known as Western Samoa until 1997, is made up of nine volcanic islands, two of which - Savai'i and Upolu - comprise more than 99% of the land.It was governed by New Zealand until its people voted for independence in 1961.
Samoa has the world's second-largest Polynesian group, after the Maori. Its deeply conservative and devoutly Christian society centres around the extended family, which is headed by an elected chief who directs the family's social, economic and political affairs, and the church, which is a focus of recreational and social life. Many Samoan villages hold up to 20 minutes of prayer curfews in the evenings.
Samoa's economy revolves around fishing and agriculture, which is vulnerable to cyclones and disease.
Attempts at diversification are meeting with success. Tourism is growing, thanks to the islands' scenic attractions and fine beaches. Offshore banking spearheads an expanding services sector. Light manufacturing is expanding and has attracted foreign investment.
Despite this, many younger Samoans are leaving for New Zealand, the US and American Samoa. Money sent home by Samoans living abroad can be a key source of household income.
- Full name: The Independent State of Samoa
- Population: 182,000 (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Apia
- Area: 2,831 sq km (1,093 sq miles)
- Major languages: Samoan, English
- Major religion: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 67 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 tala = 100 sene
- Main exports: Coconut oil and cream, copra, fish, beer
- GNI per capita: US $2,090 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .ws
- International dialling code: +685
Head of state: Malietoa Tanumafili II
Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
Prime Minister Tuila'epa's ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) gained a landslide victory in parliamentary polls in April 2006, heralding a third term for the premier.
The HRPP claimed 30 seats in the Fono - Samoa's 49-seat assembly.
Mr Tuila'epa became prime minister in 1998 when his predecessor, Tofilau Eti Alesana, resigned on health grounds after 16 years in the job. He won a second term in 2001.
Born in 1945 and an economist by training, Mr Tuila'epa was educated in Samoa and New Zealand, where he gained a master's degree - the first Samoan to do so.
In 1978 Mr Tuila'epa moved to Brussels to take up a job in the European Economic Community. He entered the Fono two years later, while simultaneously working as a partner in the accounting firm Coopers and Lybrand.
All but two of the seats in the Fono are reserved for ethnic Samoans and only the heads of extended families, known as "matai", may stand for election to them. The Fono selects the prime minister.
Samoa enjoys a "generally free" press, according to the US-based media monitor Freedom House.
But officials have sued the main privately-owned newspaper, the Samoa Observer, for reporting on alleged corruption and abuse of public office. The authorities have also withdrawn government advertising from the paper.
The government and private operators run TV stations and channels from American Samoa are readily available.
The press
Television
Radio
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, 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. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time 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.
Samoan natural resources include hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
Samoan religion is Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, other Christian 4.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census).
Natural hazards in Samoa include occasional typhoons; active volcanism.
Travel Advice on Samoa
SUMMARY
- There is no resident British diplomatic mission in Samoa. In case of emergency, you should contact the Honorary British Consul in Samoa. Please see the General section of this travel advice for contact details.
- You should avoid driving out of built up areas at night.
- Most visits to Samoa are trouble-free but incidents of petty theft are fairly common. The majority of cases for which British nationals require consular assistance in Samoa are due to replacing lost or stolen passports.
- The tropical storm season in Samoa normally runs from November to April. Please see the Natural Disasters section of this Travel Advice and Hurricanes for more information.
- The threat from terrorism in Samoa is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
GENERAL
If you require a new passport, application forms can be downloaded from the Internet or obtained from the Honorary British Consul. You should send your completed passport application by courier to the British High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand (contact details can be found on the FCO Travel Advice: New Zealand). Where possible, you are advised to apply at least one month before your passport is due to expire. We strongly advise you to keep a photocopy of the relevant pages of your passport, to avoid any complications.