Australia-Oceania :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- ## Introduction :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- 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 :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- 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: 199 sq km
  land: 199 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: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  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 extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
  Natural resources:
  pumice, pumicite
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 21.7%
  arable land 13.3%; permanent crops 8.4%; permanent pasture 0%
  forest: 78.3%
  other: 0% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  typhoons 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 natural freshwater resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines
  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 :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- Nationality:
  noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
  adjective: American Samoan
  Ethnic groups:
  Native Hawaiian and other 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.)
  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%
  note: most people are bilingual (2010 est.)
  Religions:
  Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
  Population:
  54,343 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24.45% (male 6,506/female 6,780)
  15-24 years: 19.61% (male 5,264/female 5,395)
  25-54 years: 42.1% (male 11,775/female 11,105)
  55-64 years: 8.69% (male 2,326/female 2,397)
  65 years and over: 5.14% (male 1,287/female 1,508) (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 28.3 years
  male: 28.8 years
  female: 27.8 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  -0.3% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 219
  Birth rate:
  22.89 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Death rate:
  4.75 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Net migration rate:
  -21.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 221
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 87.2% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: -0.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  PAGO PAGO (capital) 48,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 8.69 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 11.16 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 6.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.14 years
  male: 72.18 years
  female: 78.28 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Total fertility rate:
  2.92 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  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
  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.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Education expenditures:
  NA

- ## Government :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
  conventional short form: American Samoa
  abbreviation: AS
  note: 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 and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
  Government type:
  NA
  Capital:
  name: Pago Pago
  geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
  time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  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 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 (2013)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  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 6 November 2012 with a runoff on 20 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)
  election results: Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA elected governor; percent of vote in second round - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (independent) 52.9%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA (Democratic Party) 47.1%
  Legislative branch:
  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)
  Judicial branch:
  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
  Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]
  Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
  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 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
  National symbol(s):
  a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff); 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 :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- Economy - overview:
  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 2015 and beyond.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $711 million (2013 est.)
  $718 million (2012 est.)
  $647 million (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $748.6 million (2005)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -2.4% (2013 est.)
  -2.7% (2012 est.)
  0.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $13,000 (2013 est.)
  $13,100 (2012 est.)
  $11,700 (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  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)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 27.4%
  industry: 12.4%
  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:
  16,090 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: NA
  industry: 13.1%
  services: 86.9% (2013)
  Unemployment rate:
  29.8% (2005)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $241.2 million
  expenditures: $243.7 million (2013 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  32.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -0.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.1% (2013)
  3.5% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Exports:
  $459 million (2013 est.)
  $489 million (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Exports - commodities:
  canned tuna 93%
  Exports - partners:
  US 100%
  Imports:
  $564 million (2013 est.)
  $508 million (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Imports - commodities:
  raw materials for canneries, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts
  Debt - external:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  the US dollar is used

- ## Energy :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- Electricity - production:
  156.4 million kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Electricity - consumption:
  144.2 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  45,000 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  4,090 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  2,003 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  607,000 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177

- ## Communications :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 9,900
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Telephone system:
  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)
  Broadcast media:
  3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (2006)
  Internet country code:
  .as
  Internet users:
  NA

- ## Transportation :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- Airports:
  3 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 3
  over 3,047 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 241 km (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Pago Pago

- ## Military :: AMERICAN SAMOA

- Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 14,562
  females age 16-49: 14,129 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 775
  female: 762 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

- ## Transnational Issues :: AMERICAN SAMOA

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