Geography
Samoa is an independent state and member of the Commonwealth and the United Nations. It consists of two main islands (Upolu and Savaii) and seven smaller ones with a total land area of 2934 sq. km. The capital is Apia, on Upolu.
Samoa's nearest neighbor is American Samoa, to its east. Samoa lies 8 degrees east of the International Date Line and 13 degrees south of the equator. On this map you will notice Samoa designated as W.Sam (for its former name of Western Samoa), just South of Tokelau and West of American Samoa (Am Sam.).
Samoa
SPBD's main office is located in Apia and has a satellite office in Savaii, which its operation started in February 2008. SPBD's operation now covers over 150 villages spread out across the island of Upolu and Savaii.
Note that in 1997, Samoa legally changed its name through the United Nation by altering its constitution. Many map makers however still refer to Samoa as Western Samoa (hence the name in bold on this map.)
Demographics
Samoa has a population of approximately 170,000, most of who live on the two main islands. Most live in small rural villages, along the coasts which fringe the mountainous interior. Ethnic Samoans, who are Polynesians, make up 93% of the population. Europeans, account for less than 1% of the population. The remaining 6% are people of mixed Polynesian and European blood. The population is 99.7% Christian. Forty percent of the population is under 15 years of age.
History
The US, UK and Germany colonized the Samoan islands, including current day American Samoa, in the mid 1800's. A deal was struck between the three countries, in which the UK relinquished claims to Samoa in return for other South Pacific territory. The Samoan islands were then split between Germany and the US. Germany colonized what is today the independent country of Samoa and the US colonized what is current day American Samoa. This was completed in the 1890's.
Germany retained control of Western Samoa, as it was then known, until Germany's loss to the Allied powers in WWI. After WWI, Western Samoa was given to New Zealand as a UN trusteeship. Western Samoa remained under New Zealand administration until January 1, 1962, when it became the first of the South Pacific island nations to gain independence.
Government
The head of state of Samoa is Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II who was appointed for life at independence. Upon his death, the legislative assembly will elect a new head of state to serve a 5-year term. The head of state acts upon the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. The legislative branch is a one house legislative assembly (Fono). Only matai (heads of family) are eligible to run for assembly, however voting is open to all over the age of 21.
Economy
The workforce is dominated by mixed subsistence agriculture. There are on-going attempts to diversify the economy into areas such as small-scaled production and eco-tourism. By occupation, the work force is: agriculture: 65%, services: 30%, industry 5%.
According to the United Nations Human Development Report 2007/08, GDP per capita for the country is US$2184 or roughly US$6 a day.
Samoa's largest trading partners in order are 1) New Zealand, 2) Australia, and 3) Japan. Samoa is highly aid dependent. International donors in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the EU fund approximately 1/3 of its total revenues.
A feature of the Samoan society and economy is large-scale emigration, especially to New Zealand, of the most productive and qualified segments of the population. This has had positive consequences in the form of high remittances to Samoa from overseas and the negative consequences of "brain drain" and dependence on overseas generosity.
Extent of Poverty in Samoa
According to the UN, Samoa is one of the world's 49 least developed countries (LDC's). This puts it in the same category with most of the African nations, and countries like Bangladesh, India and Haiti.
The UNDP and South Pacific Commission (SPC) jointly completed and published a Poverty Strategies Initiative of Samoa in 1999. The Initiative, along with the Department of Health, established minimum requirements for food, shelter, clothing, etc. (i.e. the basic needs). As part of this they established a basic food diet. Families living in a "daily food expenditure deficit" were identified and then deemed to be living below the poverty line.
Overall 48% of all Samoan families were assessed to be living below their estimated food requirements and thus deemed to be living below the poverty line. Poverty is spread throughout Samoa although it is most heavily concentrated on Savaii (55% of the local population).
The Life of the Poor in Samoa
Poverty in Samoa is primarily aligned with the following characteristics:
- Large families
- Main source of water is rain water (instead of piped water)
- Primary cooking fuel is wood (instead of electricity, gas or kerosene)
- Primary toilet is a pit toilet
- Head of household does not have paid employment
