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.

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total area total: 199 km²
Land: 199 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 116 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
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)

Natural resources: pumice, pumicite

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

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Population: 55,223 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 3.86% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:American Samoan(s)

Ethnic groups: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%

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

Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant denominations and other 30%

Population growth rate: 3.86% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 36.63 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA
International agreements: NA

Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.91 years
Male: 71.03 years
Female: 74.85 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.36 children born/woman (1994 est.)

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

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

Government type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

Capital: Pago Pago

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Independence: none (territory of the US)

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

Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967

Legal system: NA

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 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts; seats - (21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swains Island)
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
US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

Judicial branch: High Court

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

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

Economy overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, 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 US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $2,600 (1991)

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

Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), meat canning, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 14,400 (1990)
By occupation government: 33%
By occupation tunacanneries: 34%
By occupation other: 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)

Budget: revenues:$97 million (includes $43,000,000 in local revenue and $54,000,000 in grant revenue;

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodities: canned tuna 93%
Partners: US 99.6%

Imports: $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%
Partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Electricity
Capacity: 42,000 kW
Production: 100 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 2,020 kWh (1990)

Airports: 4
Usable: 4
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440 to 3659 m: 1 (international airport at Tafuna)
With runways 1200 to 2439 m: 0
Note: small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu

Disputes international: none