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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.

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Natural Resources

hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Population - distribution

192001
Samoan (Polynesian) (official), English
APIA (capital) 37,000 (2014)
Conventional long form
Independent State of Samoa
Conventional short form
Samoa
Local long form
Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
Local short form
Samoa
parliamentary republic
Name
Apia
Geographic coordinates
13 49 S, 171 46 W
Time difference
UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, tourism, agriculture, and fishing. It has a nominal GDP of $830 million. Agriculture, including fishing, employs roughly two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring fish, coconut oil, nonu products, and taro. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs over 700 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia, and accounts for 65% of total exports, but it is set to close by yearend 2017. Industry accounts for nearly 24% of GDP while employing less than 6% of the work force. The service sector accounts for nearly three-quarters of GDP and employs approximately 50% of the labor force. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 132,000 tourists visited the islands in 2013.
Inflation
1.304%
External debt stocks
US$ 437,424,000
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
18.5%
Real Interest Rate
10.324%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
7.711%
Current Account Balance
US$ -43,559,596
Labor Force, Total
50,739
Employment in Agriculture
5.36%
Employment in Industry
14.78%
Employment in Services
79.85%
Unemployment Rate
7.16%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 392,004,042
Exports of goods and services
US$ 230,688,062
Total Merchandise Trade
51.74%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 41,323,309
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 181,901,454
coconuts, nonu, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
food processing, building materials, auto parts
Commodities
fish, coconut oil and cream, nonu, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer
Partners
American Samoa 56.8%, Australia 17.1% (2015)
Commodities
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Partners
Fiji 22.6%, NZ 18.8%, China 15.8%, South Korea 7.9%, Australia 6%, US 5.6%, Singapore 5.2% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
Business Climate Rating

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