This article is about the state. For the archipelago, see Samoan Islands.

(In Detail)

(In Detail)

National motto: Fa'avae i le Atua Samoa (Samoa is founded on God) Official languages Samoan, English Capital Apia
Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi Area
 - Total
 - % water Ranked 175th
2944 km²
0.3% Population
 - Total
(Jul 2005 Est.)
 - Density Ranked 184th
185,000

60/km² HDI (2003) 0.776 (74th) – medium Independence
 - Date From New Zealand
January 1, 1962 Currency Tala (WST) Time zone UTC -11 National anthem The Banner of Freedom Internet TLD .ws Calling Code 685 Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, is a country comprising a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Previous names were German Samoa from 1900 to 1919, and Western Samoa from 1914 to 1997. It was recognized by the United Nations only on 15 December 1976 (UN members) as Samoa. The entire group was known as Navigators Islands before the 20th century because of the Samoans' excellent seafaring skills. It has a population of 176,710 (2001 census).

History

---

Main article: History of Samoa

The first Polynesians to arrive in the Samoan Islands came island-hopping over several generations from Southeast Asia, via Fiji and probably Tonga, more than 3000 years ago and from there settled the rest of Polynesia: first traveling eastward to the Marquesas Islands, and from there southwest, via the Society Islands to New Zealand, southeast to Easter Island, and northward to Hawai'i. Samoa enjoys a rich history, preserved in folklore and myth, of voyages across the ocean, conquests of different islands, and interisland warfare with other West Polynesian polities, mainly the Kingdom of Tonga and certain Fijian chieftainships. Some people believe that a temple on the island of Manono has a record, using a system of stone cairns, that commemorates more than 150 wars. Robert Louis Stevenson, who spent the last four years of his life in Samoa, remarked that "War is Samoa's favourite pastime."

More on [ Samoa ]

Samoa - Twitter Search

I am off to a cocktail party this evening with the Consulate General of Samoa, Bartercard donated T$10,000 for the Samoan Relief Fund
PaulBolte (Paul Bolte) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:55:10 -0000
I am off to a cocktail party this evening with the Consulate General of Samoa, Bartercard donated T$10,000 for the Samoan Relief Fund
Ian Luteru,Thomas M.R. Maxwell, Toalepai & Faafua Tautolo donates to Samoa Tsunami Net-a-Thon: www.samoatsunami2009appeal.org/net-a-thon
SamoaTsunami09 (Samoa Tsunami Appeal) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:52:34 -0000
Ian Luteru,Thomas M.R. Maxwell, Toalepai & Faafua Tautolo donates to Samoa Tsunami Net-a-Thon: www.samoatsunami2009appeal.org/net-a-thon
[0:50] Sport Tv 1 - França X Samoa / Rugby Jogo De Preparação / Rugby
tvinfo_sporttv (TvInfo Sport Tv) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:50:04 -0000
[0:50] Sport Tv 1 - França X Samoa / Rugby Jogo De Preparação / Rugby
reallllyyyy craving Samoa's/ #livebytheGirlScoutlaw
BritMichele89 (Brittany Michele) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:48:08 -0000
reallllyyyy craving Samoa's/ #livebytheGirlScoutlaw
News Update: GLAAD Lawyer Named U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa   http://ow.ly/163SEX
Retardicans (FRANK) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:45:34 -0000
News Update: GLAAD Lawyer Named U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa   http://ow.ly/163SEX
Watch Survivor Samoa Online http://ping.fm/H3h1T
Krod309 (Kevin Phillips) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:25:38 -0000
Watch Survivor Samoa Online http://ping.fm/H3h1T

Subscribe to Samoa RSS feed