Where is Samoa?
Discovering Samoa has to start somewhere and its location is as good as any… So, where is Samoa located? Samoa is a country in the Oceania continent. It’s located in the South Pacific Ocean, about 3,000 km (1,864 miles) northeast of New Zealand and 3,700 km (2,300 miles) southwest of Hawaii and huddled among other South Pacific nations, such as Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Tonga and Niue.
Samoa is made up of two main islands and a number of islets with a total land area of 2,934 km² (1,133 mi²). We’ll go through all that and more in this quick guide answering the question, where is Samoa located?
Quick Facts About Samoa
- Population: 200,145
- Landmass: 2,934 km² (1,133 mi²)
- Languages: English and Samoan
- Capital: Apia
- Currency: Samoan Tala
- Famous for: Abundance of waterfalls, tropical beaches, lava formations, turtles, the resting place of Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island novelist) and the Polynesian culture of Samoans.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comWhere is Samoa on the World Map?
Samoa is located on the Oceania continent in the Southern Hemisphere. The country is situated in the South Pacific Ocean about 3,000 km (1,864 miles) northeast of New Zealand and 3,700 km (2,300 miles) southwest of Hawaii. Samoa is also 1,534 km (953 miles) south of the Equator.
The South Pacific Islands Near Samoa
Samoa is also situated between other South Pacific Islands, with American Samoa 70 km (43.5 miles) to the east, Tokelau 465 km (289 miles) to the north, Wallis and Futuna 370 km (233 miles) to the west, Fiji 850 km (528 miles) to the southwest and Tonga and Niue 300-570 km (186-354 miles) to the south.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comHow Big is Samoa?
Samoa covers a land area of approximately 2,934 km² (1,133 mi²).
There are two main islands that make up Samoa and seven smaller islets (see What are the 9 Islands of Samoa?) with Savai’i being the largest island at around 1,700 km2 (1,056 mi²) followed by the most populated island, Upolu, at 1,115 km2 (693 mi2).
Learn more about the islands in our guide, The Best Islands to Visit in Samoa. Note that Samoa is a different country from American Samoa, which you can learn more about in What’s the Difference Between Samoa and American Samoa?
© SamoaPocketGuide.comGeography of Samoa
Samoa is made up of two high and eroded volcanic islands with narrow coastal plains, called Upolu and Savai’i, which sit less than 22 km (13.7 miles) apart across the Apolima Strait.
On the Apolima Strait also lies two small islands, Manono and Apolima. A few islets lie just off the southeast coast of Upolu, known collectively as the Aleipata Islands. A few other tiny uninhabited rocky islets lie south of Upolu.
The nation’s highest peak, Mt Silisili is on Savai’i and rises 1,866m (6,122ft).
© SamoaPocketGuide.comFrequently Asked Questions About the Location of Samoa
Finally, here are the answers to some of the most popular questions on the internet about the location of Samoa.
Where is the Samoan Island Located?
The islands of Samoa (Samoan Islands) are located in the South Pacific in the continent of Oceania, approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.
What Country Does Samoa Belong To?
Samoa is an independent country since 1962, but still remains a country of the Commonwealth.
What is the Physical Geography of Samoa?
The physical geography of Samoa is high and eroded volcanic islands with narrow coastal plains.
Is Samoa Part of Hawaii?
No, Hawaii is a state of the US, while Samoa is an independent country.
Is New Zealand Samoa?
No, New Zealand and Samoa are two separate countries and Samoa is fully independent, unlike its neighbours the Cook Islands and Niue which are both states in free association with New Zealand.
Is Samoa Part of the USA?
No, Samoa is an independent country, while its neighbour American Samoa is a territory of the USA. Find out more about What’s the Difference Between Samoa and American Samoa?
More About Where Samoa is Located
That’s it for our guide on where Samoa is located but by no means the end of our interesting facts about the islands. In fact, we have more articles for your reading pleasure:
And if you’re planning a trip to Samoa, don’t miss our 30 Tips for Travelling in Samoa.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Samoa and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Samoa Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Tourism Authority Corporate (Tourism news - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Customs & Revenue (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Meteorological Division (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- Land Transport Authority (Tourist driver’s license info - Updated [2024])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Hotels Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At Samoa Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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