Date of independence, or formation date: 1962
Date when current borders were established: 1962
National day: June 1
Vehicle country identifying code: WS
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): -11
International telephone dialling code: +685
Internet country identifying code: .ws

Samoa, lying in the heart of the South Pacific, 2400 km (1500 miles) north of New Zealand, comprises nine volcanic islands. Four are inhabited – Apolima, Manono, Savai'i, and Upolu (where 72% of the population live). Rainforests cloak the mountains; vegetable gardens and coconut plantations thrive around the coasts. A relative boom in the economy in recent years has not lifted Samoa from the ranks of the UN's Least Developed Countries.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004