The Human Truth Foundation

Samoa (Independent State of Samoa)

http://www.humantruth.info/samoa.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#samoa

Samoa
Independent State of Samoa
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index139th best
CapitalApia
Land Area 2 830km21
LocationAustralasia, Polynesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population0.2m2
Life Expectancy72.77yrs (2017)3
GNI$5 308 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesWS, WSM, 8825
Internet Domain.ws6
CurrencyTala (WST)7
Telephone+6858

1. Overview

New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverAnchored at the heart of Polynesia, Samoa rises languidly from the sea, draped in jungle, dotted with flower-filled villages and surrounded by iridescent lagoons. This tiny nation´s proud history spans more than 3000 years and its people were the first Polynesians to reclaim independence following European colonisation. As such, Samoans have firmly held on to their customs.

Village life is still the norm here, and traditional governance and communal ownership carry much legal weight. The result is sweet, safe and gentle; a trip to Samoa is like sipping the world´s purest water on a warm day.

If your ideal for a South Pacific holiday involves spa treatments and jet skis, Samoa may not be for you. What Samoa excels in is affordable, unpretentious beachside accommodation, friendly people and a peace and quiet rare in this world.

It´s easy to get around, everyone speaks English and political stability is almost guaranteed.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Samoa National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
108Guyana0.714
109S. Africa0.713
110Jamaica0.709
111Samoa0.707
112Lebanon0.706
113Gabon0.706
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
133Nicaragua$5 625
134Bangladesh$5 472
135Angola$5 466
136Samoa$5 308
137Honduras$5 298
138Ivory Coast$5 217
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
136Vanuatu102.4
137Brunei102.9
138San Marino104.0
139Samoa104.6
140Tanzania105.0
141Sao Tome & Principe105.1
Australasia Avg102.8
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Samoa's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Samoa's population is predicted to rise to 200 406 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.77. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
174Vanuatu0.3m
175Barbados0.3m
176Sao Tome & Principe0.2m
177Samoa0.2m
178St Lucia0.2m
179Kiribati0.1m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
83Trinidad & Tobago73.0
84Colombia72.8
85Dominica72.8
86Samoa72.8
87Brazil72.8
88Dominican Rep.72.6
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
133Sao Tome & Principe3.52
134Djibouti3.61
135Vanuatu3.77
136Samoa3.77
137Tonga3.81
138Papua New Guinea3.83
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
90Nicaragua13.1
91Paraguay13.2
92Iran13.4
93Samoa13.7
94Algeria14.0
95Malaysia14.5
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
111Micronesia2.6%
112Azerbaijan2.6%
113Kiribati2.6%
114Samoa2.5%
115Zimbabwe2.4%
116Swaziland2.4%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
6Guyana56.9%
7Monaco56.3%
8Antigua & Barbuda47.6%
9Tonga45.4%
10Albania45.4%
11Barbados41.0%
12Suriname39.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Samoa's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1New Zealand17.5
2Australia24.1
3Fiji102.4
4Papua New Guinea122.4
5Nauru123.4
6Micronesia128.8
7Palau131.0
8Tonga132.9
9Marshall Islands134.6
10Samoa136.1
11Vanuatu138.2
12Kiribati138.4
13Cook Islands144.5
Australasia Avg120.0
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
178Iran133.8
179Zimbabwe134.5
180Marshall Islands134.6
181Samoa136.1
182Angola136.2
183Palestine138.0
184Vanuatu138.2
World Avg87.7
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark18. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu18.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe18, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia18.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR (2009)20
Pos.Higher is better
Treaties20
1Argentina24
2Chile23
3Costa Rica23
4Ecuador23
5Germany23
...
162Vietnam10
163Vanuatu10
164Iraq9
165Samoa9
166Papua New Guinea9
167Oman9
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag (2019)21
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Yrs/Treaty21
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
4Colombia3.68
5Costa Rica4.05
...
176UAE14.81
177Comoros14.82
178Fiji14.85
179Samoa14.85
180Myanmar (Burma)14.93
181St Kitts & Nevis15.00
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.
Press Freedom (2013)22
Pos.Lower is better22
1Finland638
2Netherlands648
3Norway652
4Luxembourg668
5Andorra682
...
44Malta2330
45Burkina Faso2370
46Taiwan2382
47Samoa2384
48Haiti2409
49S. Korea2448
Australasia Avg2164
World Avg3249
q=178.

Gender Equality:

Samoa has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

Gender Inequality (2015)23
Pos.Lower is better23
1Switzerland0.04
2Denmark0.04
3Netherlands0.04
4Sweden0.05
5Iceland0.05
...
94Algeria0.43
95Botswana0.44
96Philippines0.44
97Samoa0.44
98Bolivia0.45
99Suriname0.45
Australasia Avg0.39
World Avg0.36
q=159.
Year Women Can Vote
Pos.Lower is better
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
4Norway1913
5Denmark1915
...
179Djibouti1986
180Central African Rep.1986
181Namibia1989
182Samoa1990
183Kazakhstan1993
184Moldova1994
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality (2017)24
Pos.Higher is better
Score24
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
4Brazil81
5Spain79
...
131Guyana-5
132St Lucia-9
133India-10
134Samoa-10
135Trinidad & Tobago-10
136S. Sudan-10
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought (2021)25
Pos.Lower is better25
1Belgium1.0
2Netherlands1.0
3Taiwan1.0
4Sao Tome & Principe1.3
5Ecuador1.3
...
155Thailand3.8
156Israel3.8
157Oman3.8
158Samoa3.8
159Swaziland3.8
160Chad3.8
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Samoa's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #Samoa #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)26,27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank26,27
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
4New Zealand88.8
5Fiji90.6
6Vanuatu97.1
7Niue98.7
8Tonga104.1
9Samoa107.8
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)26,27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank26,27
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
147Ukraine107.3
148Tanzania107.5
149Mauritania107.6
150Samoa107.8
151Kenya107.9
152Senegal108.0
153Zimbabwe109.3
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives26. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau26.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean26, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa26.

For more, see:

Health:

Samoa has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Samoa comes in the best 20 for its smoking rate28 (one of the lowest in Australasia). It does better than average when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate29, its adolescent birth rate23 and in its average life expectancy11 (amongst the highest in Australasia). But, things could still be better. Samoa does worse than average for its fertility rate14 (amongst the worst in Australasia). And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance30 (one of the highest in Australasia) and in its immunizations take-up31 (one of the worst in Australasia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
83Trinidad & Tobago73.0
84Colombia72.8
85Dominica72.8
86Samoa72.8
87Brazil72.8
88Dominican Rep.72.6
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)29
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita29
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
45Turkey2.0
46Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.1
47Mozambique2.4
48Samoa2.5
49Micronesia2.5
50Guatemala2.5
Australasia Avg4.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
133Sao Tome & Principe3.52
134Djibouti3.61
135Vanuatu3.77
136Samoa3.77
137Tonga3.81
138Papua New Guinea3.83
Australasia Avg3.26
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)28
Pos.Higher is worse28
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
9Vanuatu 76
8Ethiopia 76
7Congo, DR 74
6Samoa 54
5Rwanda 53
4Uganda 41
Australasia Avg 372
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)30
Pos.Lower is better
Rank30
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
143Niger143
144Marshall Islands144
145Botswana145
146Samoa146
147Jamaica147
148Togo148
Australasia Avg94.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)32
Pos.Lower is better
%32
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
180Qatar71.7
181Kuwait73.4
182Micronesia75.9
183Samoa77.6
184Tonga78.5
185Kiribati78.7
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)23
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100023
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
72New Zealand23.6
73Ukraine24.1
74India24.5
75Samoa25.0
76Rwanda26.3
77Iran26.7
Australasia Avg30.1
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)31
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %31
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
178Iraq70.7
179Afghanistan70.6
180Niger69.7
181Samoa68.1
182Yemen67.4
183Papua New Guinea66.3
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Samoa's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1New Zealand17.6
2Australia19.2
3Palau59.3
4Tonga75.2
5New Caledonia75.5
6Fiji80.8
7French Polynesia95.0
8Nauru99.0
9Marshall Islands102.8
10Samoa103.4
11Vanuatu117.0
12Micronesia131.3
13Kiribati143.0
Australasia Avg98.1
q=16.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
137Zimbabwe101.8
138Marshall Islands102.8
139Algeria103.4
140Samoa103.4
141Paraguay104.4
142Turkmenistan105.3
143Guinea-Bissau106.0
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education (2018)33
Pos.Higher is better33
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
67Fiji76.9%
68S. Africa76.5%
69Spain75.8%
70Samoa74.5%
71Trinidad & Tobago73.4%
72Philippines73.2%
Australasia Avg79.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)34
Pos.Higher is better
Years34
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
127Guyana12.5
128Uzbekistan12.5
129Bangladesh12.4
130Samoa12.4
131Congo, (Brazzaville)12.3
132San Marino12.3
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)30
Pos.Lower is better
Rank30
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
61Japan61
62Malta62
63Ghana63
64Samoa64
65Jordan65
66Namibia66
Australasia Avg58.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)35
Pos.Higher is better35
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
132Vanuatu31%
133Syria30%
134Sri Lanka29%
135Samoa29%
136Ghana28%
137Swaziland28%
Australasia Avg44.3%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)36
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio36
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
121Georgia0.0
122Swaziland0.0
123Mongolia0.0
124Samoa0.0
125Albania0.0
126Micronesia0.0
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

Creativity and Culture (2017)30
Pos.Lower is better
Rank30
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
57India57
58Philippines58
59Uruguay59
60Samoa60
61Montenegro61
62Ukraine62
Australasia Avg61.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)30
Pos.Lower is better
Rank30
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
...
142Slovakia142
143Tanzania143
144St Vincent & Grenadines144
145Samoa145
146Jamaica146
147Syria147
Australasia Avg91.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

Peacekeeping and Security (2017)30
Pos.Lower is better
Rank30
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
6Uruguay6
7Indonesia7
8Brunei8
9Moldova9
10Morocco10
11Oman11
12Tanzania12
Australasia Avg88.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)30
Pos.Lower is better
Rank30
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
127Benin127
128Yemen128
129Pakistan129
130Samoa130
131Antigua & Barbuda131
132Azerbaijan132
Australasia Avg103.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)37
Pos.Higher is better
%37
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
17Montenegro+32.1
18Syria+32.1
19UAE+31.7
20Samoa+31.5
21Moldova+28.2
22Israel+25.0
Australasia Avg+03.4
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)38
Pos.Higher is better38
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
99Kyrgyzstan54.9
100Nigeria54.8
101Kazakhstan54.6
102Samoa54.5
103Suriname54.2
104Sao Tome & Principe54.0
Australasia Avg55.2
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
43Belize1994 Mar 30
44Albania1994 Apr 05
45Malawi1994 May 03
46Samoa1994 May 10
47India1994 May 19
48Paraguay1994 May 25
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)39
Pos.Higher is worse39
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
82Mexico10.50
81Tonga10.40
80Jamaica10.00
79Samoa10.00
78Moldova9.60
77Seychelles9.60
Australasia Avg13.47
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2017)40
Pos.Lower is better
%40
1Ukraine25.0
2Belarus25.4
3Slovenia25.4
4Czechia25.9
5Moldova25.9
...
88Maldives38.4
89Burundi38.6
90China38.6
91Samoa38.7
92Israel38.9
93Tuvalu39.1
Australasia Avg38.3
World Avg38.1
q=152.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below41:

Christian96.8%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated2.5%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 59.9% (Congregationalist 34.8%, Methodist 15%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, Mormon 12.7%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)42.

Links: