Samoa is located in Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.
Land in Samoa is two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior.
Samoan land covers an area of 2944 square kilometers which is slightly smaller than Rhode Island
As for the Samoan climate; tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October).
Samoan(s) speak Samoan (Polynesian), English.
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A‘ana Aiga-i-le-Tai Atua Fa‘asaleleaga Gaga‘emauga Gagaifomauga Palauli | Samoa (general) Satupa‘itea Tuamasaga Va‘a-o-Fonoti Vaisigano |
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.
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.