Australia-Oceania :: AMERICAN SAMOA

  • Introduction :: AMERICAN SAMOA

  • Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was not reached by European explorers until 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 halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
    14 20 S, 170 00 W
    Oceania
    total: 199 sq km
    land: 199 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
    country comparison to the world: 216
    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)
    mean elevation: NA
    elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
    pumice, pumicite
    agricultural land: 21.7%
    arable land 13.3%; permanent crops 8.4%; permanent pasture 0%
    forest: 78.3%
    other: 0% (2011 est.)
    0 sq km (2012)
    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

  • 54,194 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 208
    noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
    adjective: American Samoan
    Pacific Islander 92.6% (includes Samoan 88.9%, Tongan 2.9%, other .8%), Asian 3.6% (includes Filipino 2.2%, other 1.4%), mixed 2.7%, other 1.2% (2010 est.)
    Samoan 88.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 3.9%, Tongan 2.7%, other Pacific islander 3%, other 1.8%
    note: most people are bilingual (2010 est.)
    Christian 98.3%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.7% (2010 est.)
    0-14 years: 24.04% (male 6,381/female 6,646)
    15-24 years: 18.76% (male 4,983/female 5,185)
    25-54 years: 42.62% (male 11,907/female 11,188)
    55-64 years: 9.18% (male 2,438/female 2,535)
    65 years and over: 5.41% (male 1,342/female 1,589) (2016 est.)
    total: 29.4 years
    male: 29.9 years
    female: 28.8 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    -0.25% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 217
    22.9 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 69
    4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 196
    -20.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 221
    urban population: 87.2% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: -0.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    PAGO PAGO (capital) 48,000 (2014)
    at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
    total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
    total: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 148
    total population: 75.4 years
    male: 72.4 years
    female: 78.5 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    2.87 children born/woman (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    improved:
    urban: 100% of population
    rural: 100% of population
    total: 100% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 0% of population
    rural: 0% of population
    total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 62.5% of population
    rural: 62.5% of population
    total: 62.5% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 37.5% of population
    rural: 37.5% of population
    total: 37.5% of population (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    NA
    note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
    NA

  • Government :: AMERICAN SAMOA

  • conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
    conventional short form: American Samoa
    abbreviation: AS
    etymology: the name Samoa is composed of two parts, "sa" meaning "sacred" and "moa" meaning "center," so the name can mean Holy Center; alternatively, it can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology
    unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
    presidential democracy; a self-governing territory of the US
    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 3 districts and 2 islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
    none (territory of the US)
    Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
    adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967; amended several times, last in 2013 (2016)
    mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
    see United States
    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 consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly
    elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); 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 directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)
    election results: Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA re-elected governor; percent of vote - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (independent) 60.2%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA (Democratic Party) 35.8%
    description: bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (18 seats; members indirectly selected by regional governing councils to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members directly elected by simple majority vote and 1 decided by public meeting on Swains Island; members serve 2-year terms)
    elections: House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2016); Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)
    election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 20
    note: American Samoa elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on November 2016)
    highest court(s): High Court of American Samoa (consists of the chief justice, associate chief justice, and 6 Samoan associate judges and organized into trial, family, drug, and appellate divisions); note - American Samoa has no US federal courts
    judge selection and term of office: chief justice and associate chief justice appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior to serve for life; Samoan associate judges appointed by the governor to serve for life
    subordinate courts: district and village courts
    Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]
    Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
    AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC
    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 US and American Samoa
    a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff); national colors: red, white, blue
    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 accounted for 13.1% of employment in 2013.
    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 oversaw 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. In 2015, a new fish processing company completed refurbishing the processing facilities left behind by one of the two canneries that closed in 2009 and opened a new cannery. With two operating canneries once again, fish processing and exports will rise in the coming years.
    $711 million (2013 est.)
    $718 million (2012 est.)
    $647 million (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 207
    $748.6 million (2005)
    -2.4% (2013 est.)
    -2.7% (2012 est.)
    0.6% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 209
    $13,000 (2013 est.)
    $13,100 (2012 est.)
    $11,700 (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    household consumption: 54.6%
    government consumption: 52.8%
    investment if fixed capital: 2.7%
    investment in inventories: 2.3%
    exports of goods and services: 54.4%
    imports of goods and services: -66.8% (2012)
    agriculture: 27.4%
    industry: 12.4%
    services: 60.2% (2012)
    bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
    tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
    NA%
    16,090 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 214
    agriculture: NA
    industry: 13.1%
    services: 86.9% (2013)
    29.8% (2005)
    country comparison to the world: 186
    NA%
    lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    revenues: $241.2 million
    expenditures: $243.7 million (2013 est.)
    32.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 74
    -0.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    1 October - 30 September
    2.1% (2013)
    3.5% (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 122
    $459 million (2013 est.)
    $489 million (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    canned tuna 93%
    US 100%
    $564 million (2013 est.)
    $508 million (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 192
    raw materials for canneries, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts
    $NA
    the US dollar is used

  • Energy :: AMERICAN SAMOA

  • population without electricity: 22,219
    electrification - total population: 59%
    electrification - urban areas: 60%
    electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
    200 million kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    100 million kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 193
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 101
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 117
    41,000 kW (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 190
    100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 35
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 43
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 96
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
    country comparison to the world: 105
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    2,375 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 185
    0.09 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 153
    2,346 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 180
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 155
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 116
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 58
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    600,000 Mt (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 177

  • Communications :: AMERICAN SAMOA

  • total subscriptions: 10,000
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 199
    general assessment: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services
    domestic: 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
    total: 17,000
    percent of population: 31.3% (July 2015 est.)

  • Transportation :: AMERICAN SAMOA

  • 3 (2016)
    country comparison to the world: 192
    total: 3
    over 3,047 m: 1
    914 to 1,523 m: 1
    under 914 m: 1 (2013)
    total: 241 km (2008)
    country comparison to the world: 207
    major seaport(s): Pago Pago

  • Military and Security :: AMERICAN SAMOA

  • defense is the responsibility of the US

  • Transnational Issues :: AMERICAN SAMOA

  • Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution