American Samoa

Introduction

Background

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

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

14 20 S, 170 00 W

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 224 sq km
land: 224 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
country comparison to the world: 216

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

116 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm

Climate

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

Terrain

five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)

Elevation

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m

Natural resources

pumice, pumicite

Land use

agricultural land: 21.9% (2016 est.)
arable land: 13.4% (2016 est.)/permanent crops: 8.5% (2016 est.)/permanent pasture: 0% (2016 est.)
forest: 78.1% (2016 est.)
other: 0% (2016 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Natural hazards

cyclones common from December to March volcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century

Environment - current issues

limited supply of drinking water; pollution; waste disposal; coastal and stream alteration; soil erosion

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

People and Society

Population

50,826 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211

Nationality

noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic groups

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.)
note: data represent population by ethnic origin or race

Languages

Samoan 88.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 3.9%, Tongan 2.7%, other Pacific islander 3%, other 1.8% (2010 est.)
note: most people are bilingual

Religions

Christian 98.3%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.7% (2010 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.59%(male 7,732 /female 7,305)
15-24 years: 18.42%(male 4,695 /female 4,669)
25-54 years: 36.79%(male 9,255 /female 9,442)
55-64 years: 8.96%(male 2,244 /female 2,310)
65 years and over: 6.24%(male 1,486 /female 1,688) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Median age

total: 26.1 years (2018 est.)
male: 25.6 years
female: 26.5 years
country comparison to the world: 151

Population growth rate

-1.35% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 231

Birth rate

19 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Death rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Net migration rate

-26.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225

Urbanization

urban population: 87.1% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.07% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

49,000 PAGO PAGO (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 128

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.9 years (2018 est.)
male: 71.6 years
female: 76.2 years
country comparison to the world: 131

Total fertility rate

2.57 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Drinking water source

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 62.5% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 62.5% of population (2015 est.)
total: 62.5% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 37.5% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 37.5% of population (2015 est.)
total: 37.5% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

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

Education expenditures

NA

Government

Country name

conventional long form: 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

Dependency status

unincorporated unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type

republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; unincorporated unorganized territory of the US with local self-government

Capital

name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
note: pronounced "pahn-go pahn-go"

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

none (territory of the US)

National holiday

Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution

history: adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967
amendments: proposed by either house of the Legislative Assembly; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by the membership of each house, approval in a referendum, and approval by the US Secretary of the Interior; amended 1971, 1977, 1979 (2017)

Legal system

mixed legal system of US common law and customary law

Citizenship

see United States
Note: in accordance with US Code Title 8, Section 1408, persons born in American Samoa are US nationals but not US citizens

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)
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 Legislature or Fono
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 reelected governor in first round; percent of vote - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (independent) 60.2%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA (Democratic Party) 35.8%, Tuika TUIKA (independent) 4%

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Legislature or Fono consists of:
Senate (18 seats; members indirectly selected by regional governing councils to serve 4-year terms)
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:
Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)
House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 18; composition - men 17, women 1, percent of women 9.5%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 14, women 7, percent of women 33.3%; note - total percent of women in Legislature 20.5%
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 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2020)

Judicial branch

highest courts: 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

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Fagafaga Daniel LANGKILDE, chairman]
Republican Party [William SWORD, chairman]

International organization participation

AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from 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 2 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

National symbol(s)

a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk; representing wisdom) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff; representing authority); national colors: red, white, blue

National anthem

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

Economy - overview

American Samoa s 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 processing are the backbone of the private sector with processed fish products as the primary exports. The fish processing business accounted for 15.5% of employment in 2015.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 has some potential as a source of income and jobs.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$658 million (2016 est.)
$674.9 million (2015 est.)
$666.9 million (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 209

GDP (official exchange rate)

$658 million(2016 est.) (2016 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-2.5% (2016 est.)
1.2% (2015 est.)
1% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,200 (2016 est.)
$11,300 (2015 est.)
$11,200 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 66.4% (2016 est.)
government consumption: 49.7% (2016 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 7.3% (2016 est.)
investment in inventories: 5.1% (2016 est.)
exports of goods and services: 65% (2016 est.)
imports of goods and services: -93.5% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 27.4% (2012)
industry: 12.4% (2012)
services: 60.2% (2012)

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

17,850 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA
industry: 15.5%
services: 46.4% (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

29.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 206

Population below poverty line

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Budget

revenues: 249 million (2016 est.)
expenditures: 262.5 million (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

37.8% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Public debt

12.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.5% (2015 est.)
1.4% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Exports

$428 million (2016 est.)
$427 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Exports - partners

Australia 25%, Ghana 19%, Indonesia 15.6%, Burma 10.4%, Portugal 5.1% (2017)

Exports - commodities

canned tuna 93%

Imports

$615 million (2016 est.)
$657 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Imports - commodities

raw materials for canneries, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts

Imports - partners

Fiji 10.7%, Singapore 10.4%, NZ 10.4%, South Korea 9.3%, Samoa 8.2%, Kenya 6.4%, Australia 5.2% (2017)

Debt - external

NA

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Energy

Electricity access

population without electricity: 22,219 (2012)
electrification - total population: 59% (2012)
electrification - urban areas: 60% (2012)
electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)

Electricity - production

169 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - consumption

157.2 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - installed generating capacity

43,000 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - from fossil fuels

98% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,375 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,346 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

361,100 Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 10,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Telephone system

general assessment: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services; one of the most complete and modern telecommunications systems in the South Pacific Islands; all inhabited islands have telephone connectivity
domestic: 18 per 100 fixed-line teledensity, domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: country code - 1-684; landing points for the ASH, Southern Cross NEXT and Hawaiki  providing connectivity to New Zealand, Australia, American Samoa, Hawaii, California, and SAS connecting American Samoa with Samoa; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean) (2019)

Broadcast media

3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations

Internet country code

.as

Internet users

total: 17,000
percent of population: 31.3% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Military and Security

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transportation

Airports

3 (2016)
country comparison to the world: 192

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 (2019)
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1

Roadways

total: 241 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 199

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Pago Pago

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

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

Flag of American Samoa