Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
President: Manuel Pinto da Costa
Population
194,320
183,176
Life Expectancy
72.660 years
63.490 years
Capital City
Largest city
Apia (population: 40,407)
Sao Tome (population: 53,300)
Human Development Index
0.76
0.643
GDP per capita
Literacy Rate
99.7%
84.9%
Corruption Perception Index
4.4
2.7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
8.2%
1.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary democracy
republic
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)
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Portuguese (official)
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
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Area
2,831 km sq
964 km sq
Coastline
403 km
209 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
