Best Countries

Western Samoa

Important facts

Capital: Apia (See more on SIMPLYYELLOWPAGES.COM)

Official language: Samoese

Currency: Tala

Continent: Australia and Oceania-Australia-Oceania

The dream of the South Seas

Samoa is an independent island state that is easy to reach from New Zealand.

Location

According to Countryaah, Samoa refers to a group of islands in the South Pacific. The two larger ones in the west are the ones described here. The independent island state (Western) Samoa has been separated from New Zealand since the 1960s. The eastern part of the island is part of the United States.

Your Samoa Vacation

Samoa, like most of the island states of Oceania, is of volcanic origin. It includes the two large inhabited islands of Manono, Apolima and six other uninhabited islands. There is a small holiday complex on the island of Namua. You can book this on the main island. A visit to the resort on Namua is recommended. You can walk around the island in one day and see all the way to American Samoa from the top of the island. The resort offers three meals and you can stay right on the beach.

Kilometers of beaches, warm water, an average of 26 degrees Celsius all year round, friendly population – a paradise for snorkeling and diving. What are you waiting for?

Currency

Currency (sub-unit)

Tala (100 sees)

ISO 4217 code

WST / 882

Geography

Continent: Australia-Oceania

Region: Australia and Oceania

Geo coordinates: S -13 ° -45 ‘-32.5 ” W -172 ° -6’ -16.7″

Highest mountain: Magua Silsili (1,857 m)

Total area: 2,944 km²

Mainland: 3,934 km²

Coastline: 403 km

Politics

Dependency: New Zealand until 1962 (UN mandate)

UN member since: 1976

Other political affiliation: Commonwealth

Form of government: Parl. Chief Aristocrat

Economy

Export goods: Copra, bananas, cocoa

Electricity consumption: 111 million KWh

Cultivation area: 45.4%

Bovine: 31,000 pieces

Pigs: 220,000 pieces

Demographic data

Residents: 176,900

Residents in cities: 38,000

Average age: 25.2 years

0-14 years: 26.1%

15-64 years: 67.3%

> 65 years: 6.6%

Population growth: -0.2%

Birth rate: 16.43 / 1,000 residents

Death rate: 6.62 / 1,000 residents

Migration: -11.76 / 1,000 residents

Ratio men / women: 1.39

Fertility: 2.94 children / woman

Infant mortality: 25.85 ‰

Life expectancy men: 68.2 years

Life expectancy women: 73.94 years

Country codes and abbreviations

ISO 3166 Alpha 2: WS

ISO 3166 Alpha 3: WSM

ISO 3166 numeric: 882

Top Level Domain: ws

IOC country code: SAM

UN / LOCODE: WS

Source: Abbreviationfinder

Transportation

Merchant fleet (ships over 1,000 GRT): 1

Health

Number of doctors: 80

Daily food intake: 2,840 kcal / resident

Education

History

Foundation: 1962

Last sovereign since: 1962

Religion

Main religious group: Christians

Crime

Prison inmates: 300

GETTING THERE

Arriving by plane

Samoa’s national airline is Polynesian Airlines (PH) (Internet: www.polynesianairlines.com).

Other airlines that fly to Samoa include Air Pacific (FJ) and Air New Zealand (NZ). Direct flights from Auckland (New Zealand), Suva (Fiji), Tonga, Honolulu (Hawaii) and Sydney to Samoa. There are daily flights from Pago Pago (American Samoa) to Samoa.

Air passes

The Visit South Pacific Pass is valid in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific and is valid on the routes of the following airlines: Qantas, Air Caledonie, Air Nauru, Air Niugini, Air Pacific, Air Vanuatu and Solomon Airlines. With the Visit South Pacific PassThe following destinations can be flown to: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (Australia), Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch (New Zealand), Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu. The pass is only valid in conjunction with an international flight ticket and is valid for a maximum of 6 months from the first trip. A minimum of two coupons must be purchased prior to arrival in the Southwest Pacific, additional coupons (up to a maximum of 8) can be purchased locally. Stopovers have to be paid extra. The trip must be started outside of the South Pacific and it is advisable to book flights in advance.

Departure fee

No fees are charged directly at the airport.

Arrival by ship

The international port of Apia on Upolu is called by cargo and passenger ships from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Europe, the USA and the larger islands in the Pacific.
There is a weekly ferry service from Pago Pago (American Samoa).

ON THE GO

Traveling by plane

Polynesian Airlines (PH) flies regularly from Fagalii Airport near Apia to Maota and Asau on Savai’i Island. You can rent charter planes and book sightseeing flights.

On the way by car / bus

The road network covers around 2,100 km. Almost 20% of this is asphalted. The paved roads on the islands run parallel to the beach. Since 2009 there has been left-hand traffic in Samoa (does not apply to American Samoa, the eastern part of the islands).

Bus: Public transport is available on most of the islands. No timetables, the police at the bus station on the new market (Apia) provide information about the exact departure times. Bus travel is cheap on Upolu and Savai’i. The Apia bus station is next to the Fugalei market. On Savai’i, the bus station is by the market in Salelologa.

Taxisin Apia are inexpensive. Since they don’t have a taximeter, you should agree on the fare in advance. A list of current taxi and bus ticket prices is available from the Samoa Tourist Office in Apia.

Rental cars are available from several rental companies in Apia, the international airport and Salelologa on Savai’i. You usually have to leave a deposit and take out insurance. You can also rent bikes and scooters.

Documentation: International driver’s license, which is validly written in Samoa for a fee. Minimum age: 21 years.

On the way by ship

Passenger / car ferries operated by Samoa Shipping Corporation Ltd (SSC) (Internet: www.samoashipping.com) run daily between Upolu (Apia) and Savai’i (journey time 65 minutes). There are also regular boat connections to Manono Island.