Australia-Oceania :: American Samoa
(territory of the US)
page last updated on January 28, 2013
Flag of American Samoa
Location of American Samoa
 
Map of American Samoa
Introduction ::American Samoa
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 ::American Samoa
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
14 20 S, 170 00 W
total: 199 sq km
country comparison to the world: 216
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
slightly larger than Washington, DC
0 km
116 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
pumice, pumicite
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2005)
NA
typhoons common from December to March
volcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century
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
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 and Society ::American Samoa
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan
native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)
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)
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
54,947 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 7,004/ female 7,153)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 19,413/ female 18,906)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,144/ female 1,327) (2012 est.)
population pyramid:
total: 24 years
male: 23.9 years
female: 24.1 years (2012 est.)
-0.44% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
22.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
4.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
-6.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
urban population: 93% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
PAGO PAGO (capital) 60,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
total: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 150
male: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
total population: 74.44 years
country comparison to the world: 105
male: 71.5 years
female: 77.56 years (2012 est.)
3.1 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
NA
NA
NA
74.6% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 1
NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
Government ::American Samoa
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
NA
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
none (territory of the US)
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
ratified 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967
mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (since 3 January 2013)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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 6 November 2012 with a runoff election to be held on 20 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)
election results: runoff election percent of vote - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA 52.9%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA 47.1%
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
High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior); note - the High Court (or Supreme Court) is the highest court in America Samoa; there is no U.S. federal court there
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
AOSIS, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
none (territory of the US)
none (territory of the US)
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
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 ::American Samoa
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.
$575.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
$510.1 million (2003 est.)
$462.2 million (2005)
3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 113
$8,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$5,800 (2005 est.)
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
17,630 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 211
agriculture: 34%
industry: 33%
services: 33% (1990)
29.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 176
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $155.4 million (FY07)
expenditures: $183.6 million (FY07)
33.6% of GDP (FY07)
country comparison to the world: 79
-6.1% of GDP (FY07)
country comparison to the world: 172
NA%
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
NA%
$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
canned tuna 93%
$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
raw materials for canneries 56%, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts
$NA
the US dollar is used
1 October - 30 September
Energy ::American Samoa
190 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
176.7 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
60,000 kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
5,115 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
2,697 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
688,800 Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Communications ::American Samoa
10,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 200
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)
3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)
.as
2,387 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 161
NA
Transportation ::American Samoa
3 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 194
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2012)
total: 241 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 206
Pago Pago
Military ::American Samoa
males age 16-49: 14,562
females age 16-49: 14,129 (2010 est.)
male: 775
female: 762 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::American Samoa
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution