Samoa 2018 Country Review

Abstract

Samoa is a Pacific island nation consisting of nine volcanic islands. At the turn of the 20th century, the Samoan islands were split into two sections. The eastern islands became territories of the United States in 1904 and today are known as American Samoa. The western islands became known as Western Samoa (now the Independent State of Samoa), passing from German control to New Zealand in 1914. New Zealand administered Western Samoa under the auspices of the League of Nations and then as a United Nations trusteeship until independence in 1962. Western Samoa was the first Pacific Island country to gain its independence. In July 1997 the Constitution was amended to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa (officially the "Independent State of Samoa"). Samoa’s economy has been traditionally dependent on agriculture and fishing, which is vulnerable to cyclones and disease. Progress has been made in diversification, especially in the services sector, with growing tourism and offshore banking sectors.