Definition: An island group and constitutional monarchy in the southwest central Pacific Ocean. The capital is Apia. The islands were jointly administered by England, the United States, and Germany 1889-99, with the chief islands of Savai'i and Upolu recognized as German until 1919. Western Samoa gained independence in 1962 and assumed its present formal name in 1997.
a monarchy; do not confuse with SAMOA, the island group in Polynesia; AMERICAN SAMOA is also available
Other names Western Samoa; Samoa, Independent State
