Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/257.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 9KB | 284 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\WestSam.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Western Samoa"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Western Samoa, click {z,"-179.062660,-20.377797,-155.461486,-2.218788",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from
Hawaii to New Zealand

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 2,860 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 2,850 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly smaller than Rhode Island

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 403 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)

{2}Terrain:{4} narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
{3}lowest point:{4} Pacific Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mauga Silisili 1,857 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} hardwood forests, fish

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 19%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 24%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 0%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 47%
{3}other:{4} 10%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} soil erosion

{2}natural hazards:{4} occasional typhoons; active volcanism

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 214,384 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 40% (male 43,540; female 42,185)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 56% (male 62,742; female 57,323)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 4% (male 4,089; female 4,505) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 2.37% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 31.12 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 5.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.1 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.91 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 34.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 68.73 years
{3}male:{4} 66.35 years
{3}female:{4} 71.24 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 3.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Western Samoan(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Western Samoan

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood),
Europeans 0.4%

{2}Religions:{4} Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary
Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day
Adventist)

{2}Languages:{4} Samoan (Polynesian), English

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1971 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 97%
{3}male:{4} 97%
{3}female:{4} 97%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Independent State of Western Samoa
{3}conventional short form:{4} Western Samoa

{2}Type of government:{4} constitutional monarchy under native chief

{2}Capital:{4} Apia

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga,
Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

{2}Independence:{4} 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

{2}National holiday:{4} National Day, 1 June (1962)

{2}Constitution:{4} 1 January 1962

{2}Legal system:{4} based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts
with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 21 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (co-chief of state from 1 January 1962 until
becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963); upon his death, a new chief of state will be elected by
the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988) was appointed by
the chief of state with approval of the Legislative Assembly
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Fono): elections last held 5 April 1991 (next to be held 26 April 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18, independents 1
{3}note:{4} only matai (head of family) are able to run for the Legislative Assembly

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana,
chairman; Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman;
Samoan Progressive Conservative Party, LEOTA Ituau Ale; Samoa All People's Party (SAPP),
Matatumua MAIMOAGA

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
{3}chancery:{4} 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone], 6197
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New Zealand and
Western Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)
{3}embassy:{4} 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
{3}mailing address:{4} P.O. Box 3430, Apia
{3}telephone:{4} [685] 21631
{3}FAX:{4} [685] 22030

{2}Flag:{4} red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed
stars representing the Southern Cross constellation


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Agriculture employs more than one-half of the labor force, contributes 50% to
GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of export earnings comes from the sale of coconut
oil and copra. The economy depends on emigrant remittances and foreign aid to supplement GDP
and to support a level of imports much greater than export earnings. Tourism has become the
most important growth industry. The economy continued to falter in 1994, as remittances and
tourist earnings remained low. Production of taro, the primary food export crop, dropped 97% in
1993/94 when a fungal disease threatened the country's basic food crops. Nevertheless, the
government is relying on recovery and further expansion in agricultural production to sustain
economic growth of around 5% over the next several years.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $415 million (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 5% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $1,900 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 50%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 18% (1994)

{2}Labor force:{4} 45,635 (1986 est.)
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NA%

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $78.6 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $81.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} timber, tourism, food processing, fishing

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 29,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 50 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 200 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} coconuts, bananas, taro, yams

{2}Exports:{4} $6.4 million (f.o.b., 1993)
{3}commodities:{4} coconut oil and cream, taro, copra, cocoa
{3}partners:{4} New Zealand 34%, American Samoa 21%, Germany 18%, Australia 11%

{2}Imports:{4} $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%
{3}partners:{4} New Zealand 37%, Australia 25%, Japan 11%, Fiji 9%

{2}External debt:{4} $141 million (June 1993)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene

{2}Exchange rates:{4} tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.5195 (January 1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994),
2.5681 (1993), 2.4655 (1992), 2.3975 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,030 km
{3}paved:{4} 373 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 1,657 km (1988 est.)

{2}Ports:{4} Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,838 GRT/5,536 DWT (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 2 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 7,500 (1988 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 76,000 (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 0 (1987 est.)

{2}Televisions:{4} 6,000 (1992 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} no regular armed services; Western Samoa Police Force

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} NA
{3}males fit for military service:{4} NA

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} $NA, NA% of GDP