1986 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1986 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
practically none; some barley is grown in nondrought years; fruit and vegetables in the few oases; food imports are essential; camels, sheep, and goats are kept by the nomadic natives; cash economy exists largely for the garrison forces
Aid
previously received small amounts from Spain; Morocco is now the major source of support
Airfields
16 total, 16 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways, 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m >. Sava/V \ \_^^ /~O Apoltma South Pacific Ocean See rr t> i onil map X South Pacific Ocean Land 2,934 km2; the size of Rhode Island; comprises of 2 large islands of Savai'i and Upolu and several smaller islands, including Manono and Apolima; 65% forest; 24% cultivated; 11% industry, waste, or urban Water
Coastline
403 km People
Electric power
60,000 kW capacity (1985); 78 million kWh produced (1985), 857 kWh per capita
Ethnic divisions
Samoan; about 12,000 Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood), 700 Europeans
Exports
in 1982, up to $5 million in phosphates, all other exports valued valued at under $3 million
Government leader
Muhamad ABDELAZIZ, President, Sahara Democratic Arab Republic (since October 1982), and secretary general, Polisario (since August 1976) Economy
Highways
6,100 km total; 1,350 km surfaced, 4,750 km improved and unimproved earth roads and tracks
Imports
up to $30 million (1982); fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Infant mortality rate
36/1,000(1983)
Language
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Life expectancy
63
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
12 nm (200 nm exclusive economic zone)
Literacy
90%
Major industries
phosphate, fishing, and handicrafts
Major trade partners
Morocco claims administrative control over Western Sahara and controls all trade with the country; Western Sahara trade figures are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Monetary conversion rate
uses Moroccan dirham; 8.9 dirham=US$l (1984) Communications
Nationality
noun — Western Samoan(s); adjective — Western Samoa
Natural resources
phosphates, iron ore
Population
165,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 0.8%
Ports
2 secondary (El Aaiun, Ad Dakhla)
Railroads
none
Religion
99.7% Christian (about half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Shortages
water
Type
legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved — territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring the northern two-thirds, including the rich phosphate reserves at Bu Craa; Mauritania, under pressure from the Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control there; the Polisario's government in exile seated as an OAU member in 1984, while guerrilla activities continued in 1985