Samoan Tala
Tala
Currency Code
WST
ISO 882
Symbol
WST
Native: T
Decimal Digits
2
Rounding: 0
Countries
WS
Using this currency
Currency Units
Major Unit
Name: tala
Symbol: T
Minor Unit
Name: sene
Symbol:
Value: 0.01
Banknotes
Frequently Used
T2T5T10T20T50T100
Coins
Frequently Used
10 sene20 sene50 seneT1T2
Plural Forms
English Plural
Samoan tala
Native Plural
Tala
Overview
The Samoan Tala is the currency of Samoa, managed by the Central Bank of Samoa. It replaced the Samoan pound in 1967 and serves the island nation's tourism and agriculture-based economy.
Economy
- Samoa is a member of Pacific Islands Forum, Commonwealth, ACP.
- Main industries include: Food processing, Building materials, Auto parts.
- Samoa is part of the World Trade Organization.
- Imports are machinery, industrial supplies, foodstuffs.
- Major exports include fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer.
- GDP: $844 million (2023 est.).
- GDP per capita: $4,188 (2023 est.).
- Unemployment rate: 8.2% (2017 est.).
- Inflation rate: 4.3% (2023 est.).
- Main trading partners: New Zealand, Singapore, United States, Australia, Fiji, China.
- Trade agreements: PACER Plus, Various bilateral agreements.
History
- Previous currencies used: Samoan pound, New Zealand pound.
- The tālā was introduced in 1967, replacing the Samoan pound at a rate of 2:1. The name 'tālā' is derived from the English word 'dollar' but adapted to Samoan phonetics.
- 1962: Independence from New Zealand
- 1967: Tālā introduced, replacing Samoan pound
- 1984: Central Bank of Samoa established
- 2009: Switch from right-hand to left-hand driving
- 2020: COVID-19 pandemic impact on tourism
- Exchange rate peg: Basket peg to major trading partner currencies.
- Currently pegged to Basket of currencies at Variable (approximately 2.7 WST per USD).
General Information
- ISO 4217 Code: WST
- Symbols: WST/T
- Currency Subunits: 100 sene
- Central Bank: Central Bank of Samoa
- Monetary Policy: Exchange rate targeting using currency basket. Focus on maintaining stability for tourism and remittance-dependent economy.
- Bills: 2 WST, 5 WST, 10 WST, 20 WST, 50 WST, 100 WST
- Coins: 1 sene, 2 sene, 5 sene, 10 sene, 20 sene, 50 sene, 1 tālā, 2 tālā
- USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 2.7 WST per USD)
- Pegged To: Basket of currencies at Variable (approximately 2.7 WST per USD)
- Capital: Apia
- Population: 203,774 (2023 est.)
- Area: 2,831 km²
- Languages: Samoan (official), English (official)
- Time Zones: UTC+13 (Samoa Time)
- Government Type: Parliamentary republic
- Head of Government: Head of State (ceremonial), Prime Minister (head of government)
- Independence: June 1, 1962 (from New Zealand)
- Ethnic Groups: Samoan 96%, Samoan/New Zealand 2%, Other 1.9%, Non-Samoan 0.1%
- Religions: Protestant 60.4%, Roman Catholic 19.4%, Mormon 15.2%, Worship Centre 1.7%, Other Christian 1.1%, Other 0.8%, None 0.1%, Unspecified 1.3%
- Literacy Rate: 99.1% (2018 est.)
- Transport: Faleolo International Airport, limited road network, ferry services to American Samoa
- Communications: Good telecommunications, 67% internet penetration, mobile coverage nationwide
- Energy: Fossil fuels 70%, Hydroelectric 25%, Solar 5%
- Countries Using This Currency: Samoa
- Data Sources: Central Bank: Central Bank of Samoa (cbs.gov.ws), Economic Data: Samoa Bureau of Statistics, World Bank, IMF, Trade Data: Samoa Customs Services, Demographic Data: Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Geographic Data: Samoa Meteorology Division, Historical Data: Central Bank of Samoa archives
- Last Updated: 2025