Geography & environment — Samoa
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Samoa: Oceania
Immigration rules and fees change frequently — confirm current requirements on official government or embassy websites.
Location & size
- Geographic Location
Oceania
- Geographic Coordinates
13 35 S, 172 20 W
- Total Area
1,093 Square Miles 2,831 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
1,089 Square Miles 2,821 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
4 Square Miles 10 Square Kilometers
- Coastline
250 Miles 403 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
- Highest Point
1,857 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m
- Lowest Point Location
Pacific Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
Climate
- Climate
Samoa's proximity to the Equator results in hot and humid conditions throughout most of the year. There are two distinct seasons, the dry season (winter) between May and October and the wet season (summer) between November and April. The average annual temperature is 26.5 °C in coastal areas, with a decrease in temperature as the land rises inland. Southeasterly trade winds make April to October the more pleasant months. Samoa lies in the cyclone belt and is periodically buffeted and bruised by cyclones, the majority of which occur between November and April.
- Terrain
two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
- Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
- Total Area
1,093 Square Miles 2,831 Square Kilometers
Environment
- 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
