Location: Samoa (Formerly Western Samoa) in South Pacific consists of the two large islands of Savali and Upolu, the small islands of Manono and Apolima and several uninhabited islets lying off the coast. The International Dateline passes very near Samoa. Eastern Samoa (American Samoa) with its capital at Fagotogo remains a dependency of the USA (Area 197 sq. km).

History: A former German protectorate, Samoa was administered by New Zealand from 1920 to 1961. Became fully independent on January 1, 1962. has close links with New Zealand, on which it is dependant for military and economic assistance.

Economy & Crops: The economy is mainly agricultural. The chief products are fish, copra, bananas, taro, sweet potatoes, bark cloth and mats.