top of pageBackground: 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.
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m
Extended 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
ElevationNatural resources: pumice and pumicite
Land use: 10% arable land; 5% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 75% forest and woodland; 10% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: defense is the responsibility of the US
top of pagePopulation: 41,840 (July 1990), growth rate 2.9% (1990)
Nationality: noun--American Samoan(s; adjective--American Samoan
Ethnic groups: 90% Samoan (Polynesian), 2% Caucasian, 2% Tongan, 6% other
Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages) and English; most people are bilingual
Religions: about 50% Christian Congregationalist, 20% Roman Catholic, 30% mostly Protestant denominations and other
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 41 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 8 immigrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: typhoons common from December to March
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 11 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHivaidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 99%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
Government type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US
Capital: Pago Pago
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Dependent areasIndependence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Legal systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US nationals, not US citizens
Executive branch: Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989; Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989; Head of Government--Governor Peter Tali COLEMAN (since 20 January 1989; Lieutenant Governor Galea'i POUMELE (since NA 1989)
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature (Fono) consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationIn 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 staff and a war club
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Economic development is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa does 90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector economy, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries are the second-largest employer, exceeded only by the government. Other economic activities include meat canning, handicrafts, dairy farming, and a slowly developing tourist industry. Tropical agricultural production provides little surplus for export.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas
Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign supplies of raw tuna)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 10,000; 48% government, 33% tuna canneries, 19% other (1986 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13.4% (1986)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $90.3 million; expenditures $93.15 million, including capital expenditures of $4.9 million (1988)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $288 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: canned tuna 93%
Partners: US 99.6%
Imports: $346 million (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: building materials 18%, food 17%, petroleum products 14%
Partners: US 72%, Japan 7%, NZ 7%, Australia 5%, other 9%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: US currency is used
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 35,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 1,720 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 3 total, 3 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440 to 3,659 m (international airport at Tafuna, near Pago Pago; small airstrips on Ta'u and Ofu
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs 
