Samoa

Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, is a sovereign island country in the central South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main volcanic islands, Upolu and Savai'i, along with several smaller islets. The capital and largest city is Apia, located on Upolu.

Geography and people: The archipelago lies west of American Samoa and has a tropical climate with rugged mountains, rivers, and coral reefs. The population is predominantly ethnic Samoan, with communities practicing a blend of traditional and Christian practices. Official languages are Samoan and English.

History and name: The islands were settled by Polynesians and developed a traditional chiefly system known as fa‘a Samoa. Europeans began arriving in the 18th century. In 1899 the islands were partitioned into German Samoa (Western Samoa) and American Samoa. After World War I, New Zealand administered Western Samoa as a United Nations Trust Territory. Western Samoa gained independence on January 1, 1962, becoming the first Pacific island state to adopt a modern constitution. In 1997, the country changed its English name from Western Samoa to Samoa.

Government and society: Samoa is a constitutionally guided parliamentary democracy with a largely ceremonial head of state, the O le Ao o le Malo, and a prime minister who serves as head of government. The Legislative Assembly is elected, and traditional matai chiefs retain influence in social and customary life.

Economy: The economy relies on agriculture (including coconuts, fruit, and cocoa), fishing, remittances from Samoans abroad, and tourism. The currency is the Samoan tala (WST).