# Savai'i

> island of Samoa

**Wikidata**: [Q337519](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q337519)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savaiʻi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/savai-i

## Summary
Savai'i is the largest island of Samoa, part of the sovereign state of the Independent State of Samoa. Located in Polynesia, it is one of six islands that make up the country, with a population of approximately 100,000 people. The island is known for its lush landscapes, traditional Samoan culture, and significant historical and cultural importance within the Pacific region.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Part of the Samoan Islands archipelago in Polynesia, Pacific Ocean.
- **Coordinates**: -13.583333 latitude, -172.416667 longitude.
- **Population**: Approximately 100,000 residents.
- **Parent Entity**: Savai'i is one of the six islands that form the sovereign state of Samoa.
- **Highest Point**: Mount Silisili, the highest elevation on the island.
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the larger administrative territorial entities of Samoa, including districts like A'ana and Gaga'emauga.
- **Cultural Significance**: Home to traditional Samoan villages, chiefs, and the "fa'amatai" system of governance.
- **Economic Role**: Contributes to Samoa's economy through agriculture, tourism, and local governance.
- **Sitelink Count**: 56, indicating widespread digital coverage across Wikimedia projects.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Savaiʻi (with diacritical mark).

## FAQs
**What is the geography of Savai'i?**
Savai'i is the largest island of Samoa, covering part of the 2,842 square kilometres of the country. Its highest point is Mount Silisili, and it is part of the Samoan Islands archipelago in Polynesia. The island lies within the Pacific/Apia time zone (UTC+13:00).

**What is the population of Savai'i?**
Savai'i has a population of approximately 100,000 people, contributing to the total population of Samoa, which was 200,010 in 2021. The island is part of the larger Samoan society, with a mix of rural and urban communities.

**What is the cultural significance of Savai'i?**
Savai'i is home to traditional Samoan villages, chiefs, and the "fa'amatai" system of governance, which is a cornerstone of Samoan society. The island preserves the cultural heritage of Samoa, including its unique social and political structures.

**What organizations is Samoa a member of?**
Samoa is a member of numerous international organizations, including the United Nations (joined 1976), Commonwealth of Nations (1970), World Trade Organization, Asian Development Bank (1966), Interpol (2009), UNESCO (1981), and the World Health Organization.

## Why It Matters
Savai'i is a significant island within the sovereign state of Samoa, representing a distinct cultural and political entity in the Pacific. It plays a crucial role in preserving the traditional Samoan way of life, known as "Fa'a Samoa," which influences social and political governance. The island's lush landscapes and rich cultural heritage attract tourists, contributing to Samoa's economy. Additionally, Savai'i's strategic location within the Samoan archipelago ensures its importance in regional diplomacy and international relations. Its inclusion in the EU tax haven blacklist in 2020 highlights the complex economic positioning of Samoa, while its membership in various international bodies underscores its commitment to global cooperation.

## Notable For
- **Largest Island of Samoa**: Savai'i is the primary island of the country, hosting the capital, Apia, and key administrative centers.
- **Cultural Preservation**: Home to traditional Samoan villages and the "fa'amatai" system of governance.
- **Tourism Hub**: Attracts visitors due to its natural beauty and cultural significance.
- **Strategic Location**: Part of the Samoan Islands archipelago, near the International Date Line.
- **High Population Density**: Approximately 100,000 residents, contributing to Samoa's total population.
- **Economic Contribution**: Supports Samoa's economy through agriculture, tourism, and local governance.
- **Digital Presence**: Has a high sitelink count (56) across Wikimedia projects, indicating extensive global digital coverage.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Savai'i is the largest island of Samoa, located in Polynesia within Insular Oceania. It has a total area of 2,842 square kilometres, with Mount Silisili as its highest point. The island's geographic coordinates are centered approximately at -13.583333 latitude and -172.416667 longitude. The population of Savai'i is approximately 100,000, contributing to the total population of Samoa, which was 200,010 in 2021. The island is part of the larger administrative territorial entities of Samoa, including districts like A'ana and Gaga'emauga.

### Governance and Leadership
Savai'i is governed as part of the sovereign state of Samoa, which has a legislative body called the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. The head of state is known as O le Ao o le Malo, currently Va'aletoa Sualauvi II, who took office on July 21, 2017. The head of government is the Prime Minister, a position held by Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa since May 24, 2021. The island's governance is influenced by the traditional "fa'amatai" system of chiefs and orators, which is a cornerstone of Samoan society.

### Economy and Infrastructure
Savai'i contributes to Samoa's economy through agriculture, tourism, and local governance. The country uses the Samoan tālā as its currency, having replaced the Western Samoan pound on July 10, 1967. The nominal GDP of Samoa was $832,421,565 USD in 2022. The Value Added Tax (VAT) rate is 15%. The mains voltage is 230V at 50Hz, using the AS/NZS 3112 plug type. In a major infrastructure shift, Samoa changed its driving side from right to left on September 7, 2009. Its central bank is the Central Bank of Samoa.

### International Relations
Samoa maintains diplomatic relations with Australia, Taiwan, the United States, People's Republic of China, and Germany. It has been a member of the United Nations since December 15, 1976. It joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970 and the Asian Development Bank in 1966. Other memberships include UNESCO (1981), the Universal Postal Union (1989), the International Telecommunication Union (1988), the World Meteorological Organization (1995), and Interpol (2009).

### Culture and Society
The official languages of Samoa are Samoan and English. The national anthem is "The Banner of Freedom," and the tourism slogan is "Beautiful Samoa." The culture of Savai'i is uniquely Samoan, with a traditional social structure. The marriageable age is 21 for males and 19 for females. The Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, was 38.7 in 2013.

### Identifiers and Codes
Samoa is identified by numerous international codes. Its ISO 3166-1 codes are WS (alpha-2), WSM (alpha-3), and 882 (numeric). Its telephone country code is +685, and its mobile country code is 549. The IOC country code is SAM, as is the Commonwealth sport country code. The top-level internet domain is .ws. Other identifiers include the UN/LOCODE WS, the FIPS 10-4 code WS, and the ITU letter code SMO.

### Administrative Divisions
Savai'i is part of several administrative territorial entities within Samoa, which include A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gaga'ifomauga, Vaisigano, Satupa'itea, and Palauli.

### History and Miscellaneous
Savai'i has a high site link count across Wikimedia projects (56), indicating extensive global digital coverage. The island has various aliases in multiple languages, including Western Samoa, Estado Independiente de Samoa, and West-Samoa. It was added to the EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions on February 27, 2020. The country has a rich cultural heritage, encapsulated in the concept of "Fa'a Samoa," which influences social and political life.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. GeoNames
4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
5. KBpedia