Samoa

Related Category: Pacific Islands Political Geography

formerly Western Samoa, officially Independent State of Samoa, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 177,000), South Pacific, comprising the western half of the Samoa island chain. There are nine major islands: Upolu, Savai'i, Apolima, Manono, Fanuatapu, Namua, Nuutele, Nuula, and Nuusafee, with a total land area of 1,097 sq mi (2,842 sq km). Apia, the capital, is on Upolu.

Land, People, and Economy

All the islands are mountainous, fertile, and surrounded by coral reefs; extensive volcanic activity occurred on Savai'i early in the 20th cent. The population is predominantly Polynesian and Christian, mainly Protestant. Samoan (a Polynesian language) and English are spoken. The people are engaged largely in subsistence agriculture and fishing. Industry consists of agricultural processing and the production of auto parts. Tourism and remittances from family members working abroad are also important. The chief exports are fish, coconut oil and cream, and copra; imports include machinery and equipment and foodstuffs. The main trading partners are Australia and New Zealand.

Government

Samoa, a constitutional monarchy, is governed under the constitution of 1962. The head of state, who is chosen from among the royal families, is elected by the legislature for a five-year term, with no term limits. The head of government is the prime minister, appointed by the head of state with the approval of the legislators. The unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono) consists of 47 chiefs elected by village-based districts, and 2 members elected by voters without village affiliation, mainly non-Samoan or part Samoan voters; all serve five-year terms. Administratively, the country is divided into 11 districts.

History

All of the Samoan islands west of long. 171°W were awarded to Germany under the terms of an 1899 treaty among Germany, the United States, and Great Britain. New Zealand seized the islands from Germany in 1914 and obtained a mandate over them from the League of Nations in 1921. The United Nations made the islands a trusteeship of New Zealand in 1946. New Zealand rule was unpopular, and in the 1930s a resistance movement (known as mau) emerged among Europeans and native Polynesians. In 1961 a United Nations–supervised plebiscite was held, and on Jan. 1, 1962, the islands became independent as Western Samoa. The nation was renamed Samoa in 1997. Chief Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II became co-head of state in 1962 and sole head of state in 1963, serving until his death in 2007; Tuiatua Tupea Tamasese Efi, a former prime minister, was elected to succeed him. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been prime minister since 1996.