Samar is one of the three provinces that comprise the Samar Island (the third largest island in the country). It is  bounded in the east by Eastern Samar; on the north by Northern Samar; on the south by the Leyte Gulf and on the west by the Samar Sea.

The province has a total land area of 5,591.0 square kilometers.  It is composed of one city (Calbayog City); 25 municipalities and 794 barangays. Catbalogan is the province' capital.

Based on the 2000 Census on Population, its total population reached to 641,124, resulting to a population density of  114.7 persons per square kilometer.  The average household size of the province is 5.

In October 2002, its labor force participation rate was posted at 76.4%,   with an employment rate of  93.8%.

Samar is the second major fish producing province in the region.  In 2004, its fish production totalled to 31,050 metric tons, contributing 24.1 %  to  the region's total fish production.  

Samar also boasts of  beautiful natural attractions.  Some of   these include: waterfalls in Calbayog City; the Sohoton National Park in the town of  Basey where three famous cave can be found; and the world's second largest cave, Calbiga Cave which is located in the town of Calbiga.