SAMOA

More than 2,000 years ago, waves of Polynesians migrated from Southeast Asia to the Samoan Islands. Samoans are the second largest Polynesian group, after the Maoris of New Zealand, and speak a Polynesian dialect. Samoans have tended to retain their traditional ways despite exposure to European influence for more than 150 years. Most Samoans live within the traditional social system based on the aiga, or extended family group, headed by a matai, or chief. The title of matai is conferred upon any eligible member of the group, including women, with the common consent of the aiga. In addition to representing the aiga in village and district fono (councils), the matai is responsible for the general welfare of the aiga and directs the use of family lands and other assets.

POPULATION GRAPH

Population: 219,998 country comparison to the world: 185 note: prior estimates used official net migration data by sex, but a highly unusual pattern for 1993 lead to a significant imbalance in the sex ratios (more men and fewer women) and a seeming reduction in the female population; the revised total was calculated using a 1993 number that was an average of the 1992 and 1994 migration figures (July 2009 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 37.6% (male 42,117/female 40,603) 15-64 years: 56.7% (male 65,541/female 59,292) 65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,538/female 6,907) (2009 est.) Median age: total: 20.8 years male: 21 years female: 20.5 years (2009 est.) Population growth rate: 1.346% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 Birth rate: 28.06 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 Death rate: 5.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 Net migration rate: -8.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 Urbanization: urban population: 23% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2009 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 24.22 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 90 male: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.86 years country comparison to the world: 124 male: 69.03 years female: 74.84 years (2009 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.16 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Nationality: noun: Samoan(s) adjective: Samoan Ethnic groups: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood) 7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census) Religions: Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census) Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.6% female: 99.7% (2003 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2001) Education expenditures: