Definition of Samoa

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< Samoa

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Samoa²

Sa·mo·a²

-m

) KEY Formerly Western Samoa

An island country of the southern Pacific Ocean comprising the western Samoa Islands. The islands were discovered and visited by the Dutch and the French in the 18th century. The eastern islands were annexed by the United States in 1899 as American Samoa, with the western islands going to Germany. Occupied by New Zealand during World War I, the western islands were later administered as a League of Nations mandate and a UN trust territory. Western Samoa achieved independence as a constitutional monarchy in 1962, and in 1997 the country's name was formally changed to Samoa. Apia, on Upolu Island, is the capital. Population: 178,000.

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