Samoa is a country in Polynesia, one of the 10 entries this site files under that subregion. In formal use it is Independent State of Samoa. The capital is Apia.
Its territory runs to 2,842 km², which ranks it 180th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind South Georgia and just ahead of Luxembourg. That makes it a little larger than Luxembourg.
Some 218,019 people call it home, placing it 189th of 250 by population — between São Tomé and Príncipe above it and Saint Lucia below. Among the 10 entries in Polynesia it ranks 2nd by area and 2nd by population.
Location, borders and position
The coordinates the dataset gives are 13.6° S, 172.3° W, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 1,512 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
Angola, Zambia and Malawi sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
No land border connects it to another country. That puts it among the 85 entries of 250 here with no land neighbours, which shapes how it trades and who it deals with.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population and languages of Samoa
Population divided by land area gives roughly 77 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
The demonym is Samoan, so residents are Samoans.
It recognises 2 languages: English and Samoan. English, the first listed, is shared with 90 other entries worldwide.
Inside Oceania it places 9th of 27 by population, and it accounts for 31% of everyone living in Polynesia.
Money, internet and phone codes
The currency is the Samoan tālā (T, WST). That currency appears nowhere else on this list.
Apia is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Its internet country code is .ws. The international dialling code is +685. In ISO terms it is ws in two letters and WSM in three.
As a sovereign state it is among the 193 UN members listed here. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Fun facts about Samoa
- Websites based there use the .ws domain.
- Its full official name is Independent State of Samoa.
- In land area it is a little larger than Luxembourg.
- It lies about 1,512 km from the equator, in tropical latitudes.
- The Samoan tālā is used here and nowhere else on this list.
- Its capital city is Apia.
- It has no land border with any other country — one of 85 such entries in this dataset.
Samoa — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Samoa?
- The capital of Samoa is Apia.
- Does Samoa border any other country?
- No. Samoa has no land border with any other country, so every route in or out is by sea or air. 85 of the 250 entries on this site are in the same position.
- How big is Samoa?
- Samoa covers 2,842 km², ranking 180th of 250 by land area. That makes it a little larger than Luxembourg.
- What currency does Samoa use?
- Samoa uses the Samoan tālā, written T (currency code WST). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Is Samoa a country?
- Yes. Samoa is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What is the population of Samoa?
- Samoa has a population of about 218,019, which makes it the 189th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. São Tomé and Príncipe sits just above it and Saint Lucia just below.
- What language is spoken in Samoa?
- Samoa lists 2 official languages: English and Samoan.
- Where is Samoa located?
- Samoa is in Polynesia, part of Oceania. Its reference coordinates are 13.6° south and 172.3° west, roughly 1,512 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
