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Home , Elections in Samoa, Samoa

KEY FACTS Environment: The most significant environmental issue is soil erosion. Joined Commonwealth: 1970 Vegetation: Dense tropical forest and Population: 190,000 (2013) woodlands cover 60 per cent of the land GDP p.c. growth: 1.9% p.a. 1990–2013 , having increased at 1.4 per cent p.a. UN HDI 2014: ranking 106 1990–2010. Arable land comprises about three per cent of the total land area. Official language: Samoan Wildlife: Animal life is restricted to several Time: GMT plus 13–14 hrs species of bats and lizards and 53 species of Currency: Tala or Samoan dollar (T) birds. Birdlife includes the rare tooth-billed pigeon, thought to be a living link with prehistoric tooth-billed birds. Due to over- Geography as matai , who is elected for life. The hunting, all species of native pigeons and Area: 2,831 sq km population is largely concentrated in villages doves are approaching extinction. Two close to the shore. There are 131,103 Coastline: 403 km mammal species and five bird species are living in , more than thought to be endangered (2014). Capital: half of whom were born there (2006 New The name Samoa, from Sa (‘sacred’) and Moa Main towns: Apia (capital, pop. 36,726 in Zealand census). 2011), (7,182), (3,745), (‘centre’), means ‘Sacred Centre of the Language: Samoan is the official language; (3,647) and Leauvaa (3,168) on ; Universe’. Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) English is used in administration and (1,500 in 2010), (1,200) and is an of nine at the centre commerce and is widely spoken. of the south-west Pacific groups, (1,100) on Savai’i. Religion: Mainly Christians surrounded by (clockwise from north) Transport: There are 2,337 km of roads, (Congregationalists 32 per cent, Roman , , , and many being rural-access roads, 14 per cent Catholics 19 per cent, Latter-day Saints 15 and Futuna. The nine islands of Samoa are paved. Apia on Upolu is the international per cent, Methodists 14 per cent; 2011 , Manono, , Namu’a, port. There is a ferry service between Upolu census). Nuutele, Nuulua, Nuusafee, Savai’i (the and Savai’i, and weekly services to largest, at 1,708 sq km including adjacent in American Samoa. Health: Public spending on health was six per cent of GDP in 2012. Health provision small islands) and Upolu (second largest, at The international airport, at Faleolo (34 km includes the national hospital in Apia, the 1,118 sq km including adjacent small islands). west of Apia) can take Boeing 747s, but four district hospitals and the many health Five of the islands are uninhabited. Samoa, like other Pacific island countries, is centres. Most medical training is undertaken Topography: The islands are formed of remote from world centres and too small for at the School of Medicine. Patterns of volcanic rock, but none of the volcanoes commercial airlines to run frequent flights. illness and death are shifting to those of a The national carriers, Polynesian and have been active since 1911. The highest developed country, with longer life Polynesian Airlines, fly to several regional and point, about 1,858 metres, is on Savai’i. expectancy and a rising incidence of lifestyle international destinations. Coral reefs surround much of the coastline diseases. Some 99 per cent of the population and there is plentiful fresh water in the lakes uses an improved drinking water source and and rivers. Much of the cultivated land is on Society 92 per cent have access to adequate Upolu. KEY FACTS 2013 sanitation facilities (2012). Infant mortality was 16 per 1,000 live births in 2013 (134 in In September 2009 a violent earthquake in Population per sq km: 67 the South Pacific, some 190 km south of 1960). Life expectancy: 73 years Samoa, caused a huge tsunami, which Education: Public spending on education devastated coastal of the islands, Net primary enrolment: 95% was six per cent of GDP in 2008. There are killing at least 129 people and destroying Population: 190,000 (2013); 19 per cent of eight years of starting hundreds of houses. people live in urban areas; growth 0.7 per at the age of five. Primary school comprises : Tropical maritime. Hot and rainy cent p.a. 1990–2013, depressed over this six years and secondary seven, with cycles of from December to April and cooler, with period by emigration, mostly to New Zealand; two and five years. The government began to trade winds, from May to . Samoa birth rate 26 per 1,000 people (39 in 1970); introduce free education in 2009. As well as is prone to hurricanes and cyclones which life expectancy 73 years (55 in 1970). state schools, there are several faith schools. Some 77 per cent of pupils complete primary sometimes cause devastation. , in Predominantly Polynesian population, with school (2010). The school year starts in December 1991 – the worst storm to hit the small minorities of Chinese, European, or February. islands in over 100 years – destroyed over other Pacific descent. The people live mainly half the palms. The country was in extended family groups, known as aiga . The principal tertiary institution within the again devastated in 1998. These groups are headed by a leader, known country is the National University of Samoa,

The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015

Samoa

which was established in Apia in 1984. Real growth in GDP GDP by sector (2013) Samoa was one of the founders of the % regional University of the South Pacific, which 6 has its main campus in , Fiji, and the 5 4 Campus in Apia, Samoa, where the 9.3% 3 university’s Samoa Centre, School of Industry 2 27.7% Agriculture and Food Technology, and 1 g Institute for Research, Extension and Training 0 Services in Agriculture are located. The Alafua -1 63.0%

Campus was established as the university’s -2 agricultural campus in 1977. The USP Samoa -3 Centre relocated from Malifa, where it had -4 downturns, which have caused pauses in -5 growth and rapid rises in inflation. In been launched in 1976, to the Alafua 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Campus in 1998. Literacy among people 2008–09 this generally good growth was aged 15–24 is 99 per cent (2010). interrupted both by the global economic Inflation downturn and then, in September 2009, by Media: Samoa Observer and Samoa Times % 8 the devastating tsunami, causing the are dailies. Le Samoa (weekly), Savali 7 economy to contract by 4.8 per cent in 2009, (fortnightly), and Talamua Magazine before recovering in 2010–15. (monthly) are in both Samoan and English. 6 The Samoa Broadcasting Corporation 5 Fisheries provides public radio and TV services; there 4 Since the mid-1990s there has been are several privately owned radio stations and 3 substantial growth in offshore fishing, using TV channels. fish aggregating devices, and in fish farming. 2 There are 24 personal computers per 1,000 Fish and fish products are the major exports. 1 people (2006). 0 Communications: Country code 685; 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 History internet domain ‘.ws’. Samoa has its own Samoa seems, on archaeological evidence, to analogue mobile phone system. Internet banana cro ps were devastated. Compounding have been inhabited at least as far back as connections are available in Apia and a few the problem was the leaf blight in 1993, 1000 BCE by Austronesian-speaking people. other places across the islands. which led to a further drop in agricultural Evidence from legends and from genealogies shows that the country had frequent contact There are 153 internet users per 1,000 output and exports. These setbacks resulted in with Fiji and Tonga from the mid-13th people (2013). fluctuating and often negative annual growth. century CE. There was some European However, Samoa was early to embark on Public holidays: New Year (1–2 January), contact in the first half of the 18th century, structural reforms and throughout the 1990s Mothers’ Day (Monday in May), and settlement by refugees and the government was controlling public-sector Independence Day (1 June), Fathers’ Day beachcombers until the early 19th century. (Monday in ), Lotu-a-Tamaiti (Monday costs, encouraging diversification to reduce The Christian John Williams came after White Sunday, in October), Christmas reliance on the agricultural sector and to Savai’i in 1830. Day and Day. pursuing a programme of privatisation. These policies led to enhanced growth from the In 1889, Britain, the USA and , all Religious festivals whose dates vary from year seeking influence in Samoa, held a latter 1990s. Fisheries were developed, new to year include Good Friday and Easter conference in Berlin and signed a treaty manufacturing enterprises emerged and an Monday. giving the an independent offshore financial sector launched. Tourist government, with British, American and numbers increased steadily. Economy German supervision. Later in the same year, Overall, the economy staged a remarkable Britain relinquished its interest in the country, KEY FACTS 2013 recovery, showing generally good growth and the other two agreed that Germany GNI: US$665m from 1995. But it remained vulnerable to should annex Western Samoa and the US GNI p.c.: US$3,430 natural disasters and international Eastern Samoa. In 1914 the New Zealand GDP growth: 0.2% p.a. 2009–13 Inflation: 3.0% p.a. 2009–13 Samoa on the international stage In addition to from Samoans On 29 December 2011 Samoa advanced the clock by one day, moving to the west of the living overseas, mainly in New Zealand, the , so as to be in the same time zone as its main trading partners such economy relies heavily on subsistence as and New Zealand. agriculture, with cash crops, notably coconut, Two Samoans have been regional winners in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize: Albert grown for export. It is therefore vulnerable to Wendt, born in Apia in 1939, won with his novel, Ola , in 1992, and again with The natural hazards, such as cyclones and crop Adventures of Vela in 2010; and , born in Tai in 1967, won with her diseases, and to fluctuations in world prices novel, Where We Once Belonged , in 1997. for commodities. GDP grew by 0.4 per cent p.a. 1979–89. Weightlifter Ele Opeloge, born in 1985 in Apia, holds the Commonwealth women’s weightlifting record in the over 75 kg category. Her brother Niusila is also a Commonwealth There was serious cyclone damage in 1990, gold medallist in weightlifting. 1991 and 1998, when the coconut and

The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015 Samoa

army occupied Western Samoa, and in 1919 Samoa is a democracy, with a unicameral In the general election in March 2001, the the gave New Zealand a legislature, the Fono; a Prime Minister who ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) – mandate to administer the country. An selects the cabinet; and a , with 23 seats – won more seats than any epidemic of influenza broke out in 1918; the similar to a constitutional monarch. Under other party, but was nonetheless challenged Samoans at the time had no immunity to the the constitution, the head of state is elected by the combined strength of the United disease and 20 per cent of the population by the Fono for five years. However, by a Independents (12 seats) and Samoan National died in a few weeks. special arrangement decided on in 1962 Development Party (SNDP; 13). On the when the constitution came into force, Samoans resisted New Zealand’s rule, with resumption of Parliament, however, HRPP Tanumafili II (who died in 2007) and non-violent action (1926–36), culminating in leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was re- one other senior chief (who died in 1963) the Mau uprisings. After World War II, the elected Prime Minister and enough were to hold the office for life. country was made a UN trust territory, with independents joined the HRPP to give it an New Zealand’s role now being to guide The Prime Minister, who must be a member absolute majority. Western Samoa to independence. of the Fono and be supported by a majority The general election in March 2006 saw a of its members, is appointed by the head of A Legislative Assembly was set up in 1947. A return to power of the HRPP, increasing its state. The Prime Minister chooses 12 constitution, which aimed at combining the members to form the cabinet, which has number of seats to 33 with gains from both traditional lifestyle with modern-style charge of executive government. The head of the Samoan Democratic United Party government, was adopted in August 1960. state must give their assent to new legislation (formerly SNDP, with ten seats) and At a plebiscite organised by the UN and held before it becomes law. independents (six). in 1961, the nation voted for independence. The country achieved independence on 1 The Fono has 49 members, 47 elected in 41 Malietoa Tanumafili II, head of state since , the first South Pacific island constituencies by universal adult suffrage, to independence in January 1962, died in May country to do so. be contested only by matai holders 2007 aged 94. According to the constitution, (chiefs of aiga , or extended families, of in June 2007 the Fono elected Tuiatua Tupua In 1970 Western Samoa joined the whom there are around 25,000), and two Tamasese Efi as his successor for a five-year Commonwealth as a full member. Since 1962 elected from separate electoral rolls term. it has had a Treaty of Friendship with New comprising those of foreign descent. The In the March 2011 general election the HRPP Zealand. Fono sits for five-year terms. and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele At elections in 1991, the Human Rights Until 1991 only the matai were eligible to Malielegaoi were returned with an increased Protection Party (HRPP), led by Tofilau Eti vote, but following a plebiscite universal adult majority. The HRPP and independents Alesana, won 30 of the 49 seats in the Fono, suffrage was introduced in time for that supporting the HRPP together secured 36 defeating the other main political party, the year’s elections. The matai , whose office is seats. The opposition Tautua Samoa Party Samoan National Development Party. elective for life, still administer local won 13 seats. In April 1996, the HRPP was returned, Tofilau government in the traditional manner. They retaining his position as Prime Minister and are trustees for customary land held on In July 2012 the Fono re-elected Tupua Minister for Foreign Affairs with the support behalf of the people, which makes up about unopposed for a second five-year term as of 34 members of the new Fono. 80 per cent of all the land in the country. head of state. In July 1997, by act of Parliament, the country changed its name from Western Politics International relations Samoa to Samoa. This change had been Last elections: 4 March 2011 Samoa is a member of the African, under discussion for some time, but was Next elections: 2016 and Pacific Group of States, Pacific delayed by awareness of the sensitivities of Community, , United Head of state: Tuiatua Efi American Samoa which, in the end, offered Nations and World Trade Organization. no opposition. (2007–) Head of government: Prime Minister At the Eighth World Trade Organization In November 1998 Tofilau resigned as Prime Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi Ministerial Conference in Geneva in Minister; he became Senior Minister without December 2011, Samoa’s terms of entry were Portfolio and his deputy and Finance Minister, Ruling party: Human Rights Protection Party adopted and the country became a full Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, succeeded him. Women MPs: 6% member on 10 May 2012. Tofilau had been Prime Minister from 1982 to 1985 and from 1988 to 1998. He was 74 and had had problems with his health for Further information several years. In March 1999 he died. Government of Samoa: www.govt.ws In January 2000, a memorandum of Electoral Commissioner: www.oec.gov.ws understanding was signed with American Parliament of Samoa: www.parliament.gov.ws Samoa for mutual assistance on trade, health, Samoa Bureau of Statistics: www.sbs.gov.ws education, agriculture and policing. : www.cbs.gov.ws : www.visitsamoa.ws Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Constitution : www.commonwealthofnations.org/country/Samoa Status: Republic Media Legislature: Parliament of Samoa Islands Business: www.islandsbusiness.com Independence: 1 January 1962 Samoa Observer : www.samoaobserver.ws

The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015 Samoa

Traveller information wishing to drive will need an international Travel health: Prevalent diseases where driving permit. appropriate precautionary measures are Immigration and customs: Passports must recommended include dengue fever, be valid for at least six months from the date Daily flights and a ferry service operate between diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and of departure. Visas are required by most the two main islands. Buses cover most of the typhoid. Commonwealth nationals. islands, though there are no timetables. Taxis There were 116,000 tourist arrivals in 2013. Travel within the country: Traffic drives on are available, but are not metered, and fares the left (since September 2009). Visitors should be agreed in advance of travel.

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The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015