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| / / Samoa |
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| Countries of the World |
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| AREA |
2831
sq km (1093 sq miles). |
| POPULATION |
166,000 (1996). |
| POPULATION DENSITY |
58.6 per sq km. |
| CAPITAL |
Apia (Upolu Island). |
| CAPITAL
POPULATION |
34,126 (1991). |
| GEOGRAPHY |
Samoa consists of nine
islands. The largest of these is Savai'i,
which covers 1610 sq km (622 sq miles);
fertile Upolu, the second-largest (1120
sq km/433 sq miles), lies 13km (8 miles)
to the southeast across the Apolima Strait.
The islands are quiescent volcanoes and
reach heights of up to 1858m (6097ft) on
Savai'i and 1100m (3608ft) on Upolu. Volcanic
activity has not occurred since 1911. The
main city, Apia, is located in the north
of Upolu. |
| GOVERNMENT |
Constitutional monarchy.
Gained independence from New Zealand in
1962. Head of State: King Malietoa Tanumafili
II since 1963. Head of Government: Prime
Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi since
1998. |
| LANGUAGE |
Samoan is the national
language. In business and commerce English
is customary. |
| RELIGION |
Congregational Church,
Roman Catholic, Methodist and Latter Day
Saints. |
| STANDARD
TIME |
GMT - 12. |
| ELECTRICITY |
240 volts AC, 50Hz
(110 volts AC in some hotels). |
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