Samoa - Society

Population: 189,000 (2008); 23% lives in urban areas; growth about 3% p.a. but emigration, mostly to New Zealand, brought this down to 0.6% p.a. 1970–90 and 0.9% p.a. for 1990–2006; birth rate (2006) 26 per 1,000 people (40 in 1970); life expectancy is 71 years (55 in 1970). Chiefly Polynesian population, with small minorities of Chinese, European, or other Pacific descent. The people live mainly in extended family groups, known as aiga. These groups are headed by a leader, known as matai, who is elected for life. The population is largely concentrated in villages close to the shore. There are 114,435 Samoans living in New Zealand, more than half of whom were born there (2001 New Zealand census).

Religion: Mainly Christians (Congregationalists 47%, Roman Catholics 20%, Methodists 15%).

Language: Samoan is the official language. English is used in administration and commerce and is widely spoken.

Media: State-run TV is operated by the Samoa Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). O Lau TV was the country’s first independent TV channel and went on air in 2006. Since then another private network, TV3, has begun broadcasting.

SBC runs medium wave and FM radio stations, and Talofa FM is a private Samoan language and music radio station.

Samoa Observer and Samoa Times are dailies. Le Samoa (weekly), Savali (fortnightly), and Talamua Magazine (monthly) are in both Samoan and English.

There are 148 TV sets (2003), seven personal computers (2002) and 45 internet users (2007) per 1,000 people.

Education: There are ten years of compulsory education starting at age five. As well as state schools, there are several mission schools. Net enrolment ratios are 98% for primary and 62% for secondary (2002/03). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 27:1 and for secondary 21:1. The school year starts in February.

Samoa was one of the founders of the regional University of the South Pacific, which has its main campus in Suva, Fiji Islands. The country also has a National University, established in 1984 which moved to a new campus in 1997. There is also the College of Tropical Agriculture and a Trades’ Training College. Illiteracy among people age 15–24 is 0.6% (2006).

Health: The national hospital in Apia, four district hospitals and health centres. Most medical training is undertaken at the Fiji School of Medicine. Patterns of illness and death are shifting to those of a developed country, with longer life expectancy and a rising incidence of lifestyle diseases. 88% of the population uses an improved drinking water source and 100% in urban areas have access to adequate sanitation facilities (2006). Infant mortality was 23 per 1,000 live births in 2006 (134 in 1960).

Communications: Country code 685. Outgoing international calls must be made through an operator. Samoa has its own analogue mobile phone system operated by Telecom Samoa. Visitors with analogue phones can be assigned a new number for the duration of their stay and calls will be charged to their credit card.

Internet connections are available in Apia and other locations around the islands.

There are 105 main telephone lines and 460 mobile phone subscriptions per 1,000 people (2007).

Public holidays: New Year (1–2 January), ANZAC Day (25 April), Mothers of Samoa Day (10 May), Independence Day (1 June), Labour Day (first Monday in August), Lotu-a-Tamaiti (day after Children’s White Sunday, in early October), Arbour Day (early November), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Good Friday and Easter Monday.