Region: Oceania-Polynesia

Capital: Apia

Population: 177,714 (July 2004 est.)

Surface area: 2,831 sq km

Currency: tala

GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)

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.

Economy – Overview
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.

United Nations membership date: 15 December 1976

New York Mission:
Permanent Mission of the Independent State of Samoa to the United Nations
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400J
New York, N.Y. 10017 USA
Telephone: 212-599-6196, 6197
Fax: 212-599-0797