Introduction

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

Location: |  |
`Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`14 20 S, 170 00 W`
Map references: |  |
`Oceania`
Area: |  |
`total: 199 sq km country comparison to the world: 214 land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly larger than Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`116 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm`
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`
Terrain: |  |
`five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`pumice, pumicite`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 10% permanent crops: 15% other: 75% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`NA`
Natural hazards: |  |
`typhoons common from December to March volcanism: American Samoa experiences limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands, neither has erupted since the 19th century`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`limited natural freshwater resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines`
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`

People

Population: |  |
`67,242 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 201`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 31.9% (male 10,910/female 10,518) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 21,764/female 21,228) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 1,322/female 1,500) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 23.7 years male: 23.6 years female: 23.9 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`1.211% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 96`
Birth rate: |  |
`22.84 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 73`
Death rate: |  |
`4.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 206`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-6.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 201`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 93% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`PAGO PAGO (capital) 60,000 (2009)`
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: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 151 male: 12.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 74.21 years country comparison to the world: 105 male: 71.27 years female: 77.32 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`3.16 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals) adjective: American Samoan`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)`
Religions: |  |
`Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%`
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)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`NA`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

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`
Government type: |  |
`NA`
Capital: |  |
`name: Pago Pago geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
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`
Independence: |  |
`none (territory of the US)`
National holiday: |  |
`Flag Day, 17 April (1900)`
Constitution: |  |
`ratified 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of US common law and customary law`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
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
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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 on 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%
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)and 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)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012); Senate - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 20; 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 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)`
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)`
International organization participation: |  |
`AOSIS, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`none (territory of the US)`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`none (territory of the US)`
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
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Amerika Samoa" (American Samoa) lyrics/music: Mariota Tiumalu TUIASOSOPO/Napoleon Andrew TUITELELEAPAGA note: local anthem adopted 1950; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)`

Economy

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. The two tuna canneries account for 80% of employment. In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami devastated American Samoa and nearby Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency is overseeing a relief program of nearly $25 million. 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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$575.3 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 $510.1 million (2003 est.)`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$462.2 million (2005)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`3% (2003) country comparison to the world: 125`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$8,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $5,800 (2005 est.)`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%`
Labor force: |  |
`17,630 (2005) country comparison to the world: 210`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 34% industry: 33% services: 33% (1990)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`29.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 175`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $155.4 million (FY07) expenditures: $183.6 million (FY07)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`NA%`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock`
Industries: |  |
`tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`185 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 178`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`172.1 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 181`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 147`
Oil - imports: |  |
`4,140 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107`
Exports: |  |
`$445.6 million (FY04 est.) country comparison to the world: 170`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`canned tuna 93%`
Imports: |  |
`$308.8 million (FY04 est.) country comparison to the world: 194`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`raw materials for canneries 56%, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts`
Debt - external: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`the US dollar is used`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`10,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 201`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`2,200 (2004) country comparison to the world: 213`
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)`
Broadcast media: |  |
`3 television stations broadcasting; multi-channel pay-per-view television services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.as`
Internet hosts: |  |
`1,676 (2010) country comparison to the world: 157`
Internet users: |  |
`NA`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`3 (2010) country comparison to the world: 191`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 241 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 205`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Pago Pago`

Military

Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 14,562 females age 16-49: 14,129 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 775 female: 762 (2010 est.)`
Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of the US`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011