Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Samoa: Apia — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Samoa is Apia. Samoa sits in Oceania, has a population of 222,382, and uses the WST. Official languages include Samoan, English.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Apia
  • Continent: Oceania
  • Population: ~222,382
  • Area: 2,842 km²
  • Population density: 78.2 people per km²
  • Official languages: Samoan, English
  • Currency: WST
  • ISO code: WS

How big is Samoa?

By population, Samoa ranks 178th in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 169th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Samoa has 78.2 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Oceania, Samoa is the 7th most populous country of 14.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Samoa in population are São Tomé and Príncipe (227,380) and Saint Lucia (179,857).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Luxembourg (2,586 km²) and Mauritius (2,040 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Samoan is listed as an official language of Samoa alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.

Samoa uses the WST, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Samoa

Samoa has two big islands, Upolu and Savai'i, and Apia is on Upolu. Apia and Upolu both start with a vowel, so pair them up. For the flag, look for the Southern Cross stars in a blue corner on red.

The flag of Samoa: red, blue and white

🇼🇸 The flag is a red flag with a blue rectangle in the top-left corner holding five white stars. The five white stars show the Southern Cross, a group of stars seen in the southern sky. Red stands for courage, blue for freedom and white for purity.

Region and neighbours

Samoa is an island country in the South Pacific, in Polynesia, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. As an island country it has no land neighbours.

Three facts about Samoa

  1. At the end of 2011 Samoa moved its clocks across the International Date Line, so Friday 30 December 2011 never happened there.
  2. In 1962 Samoa became the first small-island country in the Pacific to become independent.
  3. Samoa is made up of two main islands, Upolu and Savai'i, plus a few smaller ones.

Sources: Wikipedia: Samoa, Wikipedia: Flag of Samoa, Wikipedia: Apia, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Samoa

Samoa capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Samoa 🇼🇸?

    • Majuro
    • Ngerulmud
    • Apia
    • Tarawa
    Show answer

    Apia

  2. What is the capital of Vanuatu 🇻🇺?

    • Port Vila
    • Yaren
    • Canberra
    • Apia
    Show answer

    Port Vila

  3. What is the capital of Kiribati 🇰🇮?

    • Tarawa
    • Palikir
    • Suva
    • Apia
    Show answer

    Tarawa

  4. What is the capital of Micronesia 🇫🇲?

    • Palikir
    • Port Moresby
    • Tarawa
    • Apia
    Show answer

    Palikir

  5. What is the capital of Tonga 🇹🇴?

    • Palikir
    • NukuÊ»alofa
    • Honiara
    • Suva
    Show answer

    Nukuʻalofa

Samoa in Oceania

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Oceania is the block Samoa belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Samoa.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Samoa?

The capital of Samoa is Apia.

What is the population of Samoa?

About 222,382, making it the 178th most populous country in the world.

How big is Samoa?

2,842 square kilometres, ranking 169th by land area, at a density of 78.2 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Samoa use?

The WST, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Samoa flag?

The flag of Samoa is a red flag with a blue rectangle in the top-left corner holding five white stars. The five white stars show the Southern Cross, a group of stars seen in the southern sky. Red stands for courage, blue for freedom and white for purity.

Which countries border Samoa?

None. Samoa is an island country in the South Pacific, in Polynesia, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, so it has no land borders with other countries.

How can I remember the capital of Samoa?

Samoa has two big islands, Upolu and Savai'i, and Apia is on Upolu. Apia and Upolu both start with a vowel, so pair them up. For the flag, look for the Southern Cross stars in a blue corner on red.

More capitals to learn

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