Permanent Mission of the Independent State of Samoa to the United Nations
Brief background on nation
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.
Geographic: Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic: Longitude & Latitude
13 35 S, 172 20 W
Geographic: Area
total: 2,944 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
*Geographic: Climate
tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Economic : GDP by sector
agriculture: 14% industry: 23% services: 63% (2001 est.)
Political / Government Structure: Government Type
constitutional monarchy under native chief
*People & Culture: Population
178,173 (July 2003 est.)
**People & Culture: Ethnic Groups
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
People & Culture: Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English