Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Pearlette Louisy Prime minister: Kenny Anthony
Population
194,320
162,178
Life Expectancy
72.660 years
77.040 years
Capital City
Largest city
Apia (population: 40,407)
Bisee (population: 12,980)
Human Development Index
0.76
0.821
GDP per capita
Literacy Rate
99.7%
90.1%
Corruption Perception Index
4.4
7.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
8.2%
17.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
Religions
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English
English (official), French patois
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
2,831 km sq
616 km sq
Coastline
403 km
158 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
