Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:
13 35 S, 172 20 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 2,831 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 2,821 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 10 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 178

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
403 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]

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

Terrain:
two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rugged mountains in interior

Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m

Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 12.4% arable land 2.8%; permanent crops 7.8%; permanent pasture 1.8%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 60.4%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 27.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
about three-quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu

Natural hazards:
occasional cyclones; active volcanism
volcanism: Savai'I Island (1,858 m), which last erupted in 1911, is historically active

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

Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia