American Samoa

Territory of the U.S.

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area

Total area: 199 sq km
Land area: 199 sq km
Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Note: Includes Rose Island and Swains Island

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

116 km

Maritime Claims

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

International Disputes

None

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)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m

Natural Resources

Pumice
Pumicite

Land Use

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

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas of the island water supplies come from roof catchments
Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
International agreements: NA

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

Population

59,566 (July 1996 est.)
57,366 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

3.77% (1996 est.)
3.82% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

35.75 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
36.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 72.91 years
Male: 71.03 years
Female: 74.85 years (1996 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

4.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)
4.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: American Samoan(s)
Adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic Divisions

Samoan (Polynesian) 89%
Caucasian 2%
Tongan 4%
Other 5%

Religions

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

Languages

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

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1980)

Total population: 97%
Male: 98%
Female: 97%

Labor Force

14,400 (1990)

By occupation:

Government 33%
Tuna canneries 34%
Other 33% (1990)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
Conventional short form: American Samoa

Abbreviation

Digraph

Type

Unincorporated and unorganized territory of the U.S.; administered by the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

Capital

Pago Pago

Administrative Divisions

None (territory of the U.S.)

Independence

None (territory of the U.S.)

National Holiday

Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution

Ratified 1966, in effect 1967

Legal System

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 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts; percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swains Island); number of seats by party NA

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

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

Judicial Branch

High Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Member of

ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC

Flag

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 U.S., 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 U.S. Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

National Product Per Capita

$2,600 (1991)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

7% (1990)

Unemployment Rate

12% (1991)

Budget

Revenues: $97 million (includes $43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue);
Expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA (FY90/91)

Exports

$306 million (f.o.b., 1989)

Commodities:

Canned tuna 93%

Partners:

U.S. 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:

U.S. 62%
Japan 9%
NZ 7%
Australia 11%
Fiji 4%
Other 7%

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 30,000 kW
Production: 90 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)

Industries

Tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels)
Meat canning
Handicrafts

Agriculture

Bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming

Economic Aid

Recipient: $21,042,650 in operational funds and $1,227,000 in construction funds for capital improvement projects from the U.S. Department of Interior (1991)

Currency

1 United States dollar = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

U.S. currency is used

Fiscal Year

1 October - 30 September

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 350 km
Paved: 150 km
Unpaved: 200 km

Ports

Aanu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Total: 3
With paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 2

Note: Small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

8,399 telephones; good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services

Domestic: satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
International: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) and 1 COMSAT earth station

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA

Television

Broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 8,000 (1993 est.)

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.S.

History
World Atlas

Last updated: 26 november 1997

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