Map of American Samoa | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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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.


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Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 199 km²
Land: 199 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Comparative note: Includes Rose Island and Swains Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 116 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April, dry season from 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
Extremes highest point: Lata 966 m

Natural resources:

Land use
Arable land: 10%
Permanent crops: 5%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 75%
Other: 10%

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: American Samoan(s)
Adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic groups:

Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English; most people are bilingual

Religions:

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
6 migrants/1000 population 1995 est. Infant Mortality Rate:

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas of the island water supplies come from roof catchments
Current issues Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
International agreements: NA
International agreements 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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.91 years
Male: 71.03 years
Female: 74.85 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate:

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1980)
Total population: 97%
Male: 98%
Female: 97%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
Conventional short form: American Samoa Abbreviation:AS

Government type: Unincorporated and unorganized territory of the U.S.; administered by the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

Capital: Pago Pago

Administrative divisions: None (territory of the U.S.)

Dependent areas

Independence: None (territory of the U.S.)

National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution: Ratified 1966, in effect 1967

Legal system: NA

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
Head of government: Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993); Lieutenant Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993); election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results_A. P. LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%

Legislative branch: Bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono) House of Representatives:Elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996; results_representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts; percent of vote by party NA; seats_(21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; number of seats by party NA Senate:Elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996; results_senators elected by village chiefs from 12 senate districts; seats_(18 total) number of seats by party NA U.S. House of Representatives:Elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996; results_Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC

Diplomatic representation

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 staff and a war club

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the U.S., with which American Samoa conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the U.S. Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: 14,400 (1990)
By occupation Government: 33%
By occupation Tuna canneries: 34%
By occupation Other: 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $97 million (includes $43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue);
Expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA (FY90/91)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October_30 September

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: total value. $306 million (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodities: Canned tuna 93%
Partners: U.S. 99.6%

Imports: total value:$360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Commodities:
Partners:

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: U.S. currency is used


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 90 million kWh

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: 8,399 telephones; good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services
Domestic: satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
International: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) and 1 COMSAT earth station

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 3
2438 to 3047 m: 1
Under 914 m: 2
Note: Small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: None

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs