Lying in the heart of the South Pacific, 2400 km (1490 miles) north of New Zealand, Samoa comprises nine volcanic islands. Four are inhabited – Apolima, Manono, Savai'i, and Upolu (where 72% of the population live). Rainforests cloak the mountains; vegetable gardens and coconut plantations thrive around the coasts. A relative boom in the economy in recent years has not lifted Samoa from the ranks of the UN's Least Developed Countries.

Ethnic Samoans are the world's second-largest Polynesian group, after the Maoris. The fa'a Samoa – Samoan way of life – is communal and conservative. Extended family groups, in which most people live, own 80% of the land, and are not permitted to sell it. Each family is headed by a matai, or elected chief, who looks after its political and social interests. Large-scale migration to New Zealand and the USA reflects a lack of jobs and the attractions of Western life. Conflict between the fa'a Samoa and modern life is strongest among the young, who have a high suicide rate. Euronesians are those of mixed European/Polynesian descent.

Strengths

Light manufacturing expanding, attracting foreign, especially Japanese, firms. Tourism growing rapidly with improved infrastructures. Services expanding rapidly since 1989 launch of offshore banking. Tropical agriculture: taro, coconut cream, cocoa, copra are main exports. Large potential for fishing.

Weaknesses

Development adversely affected by cyclones. Fluctuating international markets for copra and cocoa. Dependence on aid and expatriate remittances.

The conservatism of the fa'a Samoa and the Church underpins Samoa's political stability. Allegiance to the two main parties is quite fluid. Until 1990, only the 1800 elected chiefs, or matai, could vote for the 47 ethnic Samoan seats in the Assembly; the other two seats are elected by non-Samoans. Universal suffrage was introduced at the 1991 elections. Tofilau Eti Alesana of the HRPP, prime minister twice since 1988, resigned in 1998 amid widespread protest against the government's autocratic style. His successor, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, also of the HRPP, was reappointed in 2001.

Australia is Samoa's main trading partner. New Zealand, the USA, Japan, Fiji, American Samoa, and the EU are also important. Relations with China are well established. Samoa has trade links with the Cook Islands, and supports a Polynesian free trade agreement.

New Zealand looks after defense under a 1962 treaty. Internal order is mostly maintained by the matai (chiefs).

With no minerals, Samoa's main resources are its forests and tropical agriculture. The rainforests in lower-lying areas are increasingly exploited for timber. Mahogany and teak plantations are being developed. The volcanic soils, particularly on Upolu, support a wide range of staple and export crops. Two-thirds of the population work in agriculture.

Strict logging regulations have been introduced to halt irreparable damage to the environment; over 80% of forests have been replaced by plantations. Overhunting and loss of habitat have endangered rare species of fruit bat and pigeon. Samoa is concerned about its marine resources and has taken a firm stance against driftnet fishing.

Apia port has been improved with Japanese aid. International links are mainly by air. Ferries provide interisland connections.

The Samoan preference for being big went well with traditional diets. Diabetes and heart disease are rising as people change to Western-style foods.

Education is based on the New Zealand system. School attendance is universal and literacy levels high. A university was established in 1988. The use of corporal punishment is widespread.

Alcohol-related violence is a problem at weekends; otherwise, violent crime is almost unknown. Theft is increasing in urban areas.

Most people depend on subsistence farming and the remittances of relatives for their livelihood. Samoa is classed by the UN as a Least Developed Country. Two-thirds of those with a permanent job work for the government. The prospect of higher wages in other, wealthier countries in the Pacific region, notably in the tuna canneries of the neighboring US dependency of American Samoa, leads thousands of young Samoans to emigrate every year.

Tourism is a rapidly growing industry. Small-scale village-based tourism is encouraged. Tourists are attracted by the climate and the easygoing fa'a Samoa (Samoan way of life).

Polynesians settled Samoa in about 1000 B.C.E. Western rivalry after 1830 led to the 1899 division of the islands into German Western and American Eastern Samoa.

• 1914 New Zealand occupies Western Samoa.
• 1962 Becomes first independent Polynesian nation.
• 1990 Cyclone Ofa leaves 10,000 homeless.
• 1991 HRPP retains power in first election under universal adult suffrage.
• 1996, 2001 HRPP returned to power in elections.
• 1997 Country's name changed from Western Samoa to Samoa.