Geography of Samoa

Map of Samoa
South east coast of Savai'i island.

The independent country of Samoa consists of the two large islands of Upolu and Savai'i and 8 smaller islands located about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the South Pacific.

The island of Upolu is home to nearly three-quarters of Samoa's population and its capital city of Apia. The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from November to April.

To the East is the smaller American Samoa, see also Geography of American 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 / 13.583°S 172.333°WCoordinates: 13°35′S 172°20′W / 13.583°S 172.333°W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 2,944 km²
land: 2,934 km²
water: 10 km²

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 403 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)

Islands of Nu'ulopa (left) and Apolima (right) with Savai'i in the distance.

Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)

Terrain: Two main islands Savai'i and Upolu, with settlements on Manono and Apolima in the Apolima Strait between Savai'i and Upolu. A small uninhabited island Namua sits between Manono and Apolima. Off the east end of Upolu are the Aleipata Islands, small uninhabited islets; The terrain of the two main islands are narrow coastal plains with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m

Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Falefa Valley on Upolu island.

Land use:
arable land: 21.2%
permanent crops: 24.38%
other: 54.42%

Irrigated land: NA km² longest river? Natural hazards: occasional cyclones; 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

See also