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Geography of Samoa

Location:Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 2,944 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:403 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Terrain:two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m
Natural resources:hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 21.13%
permanent crops: 24.3%
other: 54.57% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment - current issues:soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

Samoa Quickstats

  • Population: 214,265
  • Area: 2,944 sq km
  • Density: 65 /km² (126th)
  • GDP (total): $1.16 billion (166th)
  • GDP (per capita): $6,344 (94th)
  • Literacy: 99.7%

Languages of Samoa

Useful to know

  • Currency: Tala (WST)
  • Dial code: +685

International Trade

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