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.

Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S 170 00 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 199 km²
Land: 199 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
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 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: pumice pumicite

Land use
Arable land: 10%
Permanent crops: 15%
Other: 75% (2001)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March

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

Population: 57,881 (July 2005 est.)
Growth rate: -0.11% (2005 est.)
Below poverty line: NA

Nationality
Noun: American Samoan
Adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic groups: native Pacific islander 92.9% Asian 2.9% white 1.2% mixed 2.8% other 0.2% (2000 census)

Languages
Note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 35.7% (male 10,705/female 9,956)
15-64 years: 61.3% (male 18,351/female 17,125)
65 years and over: 3% (male 664/female 1,080) (2005 est.)

Median age
Total: 22.76 years
Male: 22.5 years
Female: 23.05 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.11% (2005 est.)

Birth rate: 23.13 births/1000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate: 3.33 deaths/1000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate: -20.89 migrant(s)/1000 population (2005 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.08 male/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male/female
Total population: 1.06 male/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.27 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 9.85 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.65 deaths/1000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.84 years
Male: 72.27 years
Female: 79.62 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

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

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

Government type: NA

Capital: Pago Pago

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: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
Head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
Cabinet: cabinet made up of 12 department directors
Elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
Election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%

Legislative branch
Elections: House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
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 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) 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]

International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau) IOC UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of the US)
From the us: none (territory of the US)

Flag description: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer 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: This is 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 foreign trade. 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $500 million (2000 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: 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%

Labor force: 14,000 (1996)
By occupation: tuna canneries 34% government 33% other 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 6% (2000)

Population below poverty line: NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)
Expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY96/97)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: NA%

Exports: $30 million (2002)
Commodities: canned tuna 93%
Partners: Samoa 39.8% Australia 19.9% Japan 15.1% New Zealand 10.5% (2004)

Imports: $123 million (2002)
Commodities: materials for canneries 56% food 8% petroleum products 7% machinery and parts 6%
Partners: Japan 31.4% New Zealand 27.9% Germany 17.1% Australia 8.9% (2004)

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Production: 130 million kWh (2002)
Consumption: 120.9 million kWh (2002)
Exports: 0 kWh (2002)
Imports: 0 kWh (2002)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 15,000 (2001)
Mobile cellular: 2,377 (1999)

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)

Internet
Country code: .as
Users: NA

Airports: 3 (2004 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Disputes international: none