Introduction American Samoa
Background Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
Geography American Samoa
Area total: 199 sq km
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area - comparative slightly larger than Washington, DC
Climate tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 116 km
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines
Geographic coordinates 14 20 S, 170 00 W
Geography - note Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean
Irrigated land NA
Land boundaries 0 km
Land use arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2005)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references Oceania
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards typhoons common from December to March
Natural resources pumice, pumicite
Terrain five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
People American Samoa
Age structure 0-14 years: 34.4% (male 11,337/female 10,946)
15-64 years: 61.8% (male 20,335/female 19,728)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 1,161/female 1,320) (2008 est.)
Birth rate 23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate 4.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures NA
Ethnic groups native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS NA
Infant mortality rate total: 10.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2%
note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)
Life expectancy at birth total population: 73.47 years
male: 70.55 years
female: 76.56 years (2008 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
Median age total: 22.8 years
male: 22.7 years
female: 23 years (2008 est.)
Nationality noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan
Net migration rate -7.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population 64,827 (July 2008 est.)
Population below poverty line NA%
Population growth rate 1.236% (2008 est.)
Religions Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate 3.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Transportation American Samoa
Airports 3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals Pago Pago
Roadways total: 221 km (2007)
Government American Samoa
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Capital name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967
Country name conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
Dependency status unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US)
Executive branch chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 and 18 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO reelected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 56.5%, Afoa Moega LUTU 43.5%
Flag description blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa
Government type NA
Independence none (territory of the US)
International organization participation Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
Legal system NA
Legislative branch bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
National holiday Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Economy American Samoa
Budget revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)
expenditures: $127 million (FY96/97)
Currency (code) US dollar (USD)
Debt - external $NA
Economic aid - recipient important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994
Economy - overview American Samoa has a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US with which American Samoa conducts most of its commerce. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector.
note: as a territory of the US, American Samoa does not treat the US as an external trade partner
Electricity - consumption 167.4 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production 180 million kWh (2006 est.)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used
Exports $445.6 million (FY04 est.)
Exports - commodities canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP) $5,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3% (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate) $333.8 million (2005)
GDP (purchasing power parity) $510.1 million (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Imports $308.8 million (FY04 est.)
Imports - commodities materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)
Industries tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA%
Labor force 17,630 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 34%
industry: 33%
services: 33% (1990)
Natural gas - consumption 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption 4,053 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports 0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports 4,066 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 29.8% (2005)
Communications American Samoa
Internet country code .as
Internet hosts 1,923 (2008)
Internet users NA
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
Telephone system general assessment: NA
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 10,400 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,200 (2004)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2006)
Military American Samoa
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male: 806
female: 781 (2008 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues American Samoa
Disputes - international Tokelau periodically asserts claims to American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega), such as in its 2006 draft independence constitution

Map: American Samoa