The Independent State of Samoa is a country located in Oceania and encompasses the western part of the Samoan Islands. Samoa became independent of New Zealand in 1962, which was when it officially changed its name from Western Samoa to the Independent State of Samoa. Samoa is a parliamentary democracy with a population of just under 200,000. The country is slightly smaller than Rhode Island.


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General Information
Official Name:
Independent State of Samoa
Capitol:
Apia
Population:
194,320
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian)
Geographic Region:
Oceania
Polynesia
Geographic Size (km sq):
2,842
Year of UN Membership:
1976
Year of Present State Formation:
1962
Current UN Representative:
Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia
Online Profiles
CIA World Factbook Country Profile: Samoa
BBC Country Profile: Samoa
U.S. Department of State Country Profile: Samoa
Law Library of Congress Country Profile: Samoa
Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade County Profile: Samoa
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs Countries, Economies and Regions: Samoa
National Geographic Country Profile: Samoa
Lonely Planet Country Profile: Samoa
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal):
$630.000 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted):
$5,965 (CID)
GDP Growth:
0.10 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI):
0.69
Economic Grouping:
Developing Country
Least Developed Country
Small Island Developing State
History
BBC Timeline of Samoa
Embassy of the United States’ Summary of Samoan History
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses:
Group of 77 (G-77)
Asian Group
Major International & Regional Organizations:
ACP: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
ADB: Asian Development Bank
AOSIS: Alliance of Small Island States
Commonwealth of Nations (British)
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Union
ITUC: International Trade Union Confederation
PIF: Pacific Islands Forum
Sparteca: South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement
SPC: Secretariat of the Pacific Communities
WCO: World Customs Organization
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations:
CTBTO: Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICSID: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
IDA: International Development Association
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WBG: World Bank Group
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WTO: World Trade Organization
Bilateral Relations
Security Council:
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheets: US-Samoa Bilateral Relations
U.K. Gov.UK Worldwide Activities: UK-Samoa Bilateral Relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development: France-Samoa Bilateral Relations
P.R. of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China-Samoa Bilateral Relations
Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, Statements, Speeches and Documents
Asia (E/S/SE):
Japan-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
India-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Briefs
Vietnam-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa & Middle East:
Turkey-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Armenia-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Egypt-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Africa-Samoa Bilateral Relations: South Africa International Relations & Cooperation
European Union:
EU-Samoa Relations: E.U. External Action, European Union Around the Globe
Germany-Samoa Relations: Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Netherlands-Samoa Relations: Government of the Netherlands International Relations
Finland-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Greece-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Western (Non-EU):
Canada-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Government of Canada International Gateway, Offices & Embassies
Australia-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Briefs
New Zealand-Samoa Bilateral Relations: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Switzerland-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Swiss Confederation Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Monaco-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Principauté de Monaco, Monaco Worldwide
Latin America & Caribbean :
Cuba-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Cuba MinRex, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Brazil-Samoa Bilateral Relations: Brasil Ministério das Relações Exteriores (in Portuguese)
United Nations Data
UN Security Council: Admission of a New Member, Western Samoa
UN Development Program: Environment and Sustainable Development & Crisis Prevention and Early Recoverment Outcome Evaluation
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Statement by Samoa on Climate Change
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: Concluding Observations, Samoa
UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: State Party Report, Samoa
UN Development Policy and Analysis Division (DESA) least developed country profiles: Samoa
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) least developed country profiles: Samoa
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) least developed country profiles: Samoa
UN Office of the High Representative for small island developing states (UN-OHRLLS) country profiles: Samoa
News Sources
BBC News Country Media Profile: Samoa
The Guardian World News Stories: Samoa
New York Times Countries & Regions News: Samoa
The Economist Topics Index: Samoa
World News Report: Samoa
Topix Real Time News and Updates: Samoa
ABYZ Newspapers and Media Guide: Samoa
Government Sources
Samoan Parliament
Samoan Office of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Samoan Embassy
UN Mission
Permanent Mission of the Independent State of Samoa to the United Nations
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400J
New York, NY 10017
(212) 599-6196
(212) 599-0797
samoa@un.int

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