They are the same in that Samoans in American Samoa and Samoa (once Western Samoa) have the same heritage. However, American Samoa is a US territory while Samoa is an independent nation. So they are in effect two different countries.

First it is no longer called Western Samoa. Its just Samoa or the formal name Independent state of Samoa.

The elections start today 4th March 2011.

Western Samoa was the colonial name for Samoa, which is an independent country separate from the US territory of American Samoa.

The population of Samoa in early 2012 was estimated at 183,000.

It used to be one whole country. Samoa. Until world war I when the US occupied American Samoa for its naval base in Pago Pago, and Western Samoa was occupied by Germany, and then NZ. Now, Samoa (no longer called Western Samoa) is an independent country, whereas American Samoa is still a US territory (but is governed by Samoan representatives and a Samoan Governor). So now there is American Samoa and Samoa.

Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi is the prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa). He was appointed by the head of State, at the request of the Samoa National Legislative Assembly, in 1998.