1996 Edition

Description

blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer 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

Location

14 20 S, 170 00 W -- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly larger than Washington, DC

land area

199 sq km

note

includes Rose Island and Swains Island

total area

199 sq km

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

Coastline

116 km

Environment

current issues

limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas of the island, water supplies come from roof catchments

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

typhoons common from December to March

Geographic coordinates

14 20 S, 170 00 W

Geographic 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

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

10%

forest and woodland

75%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

10%

permanent crops

5%

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

pumice, pumicite

Terrain

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

highest point

Lata 966 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic divisions

Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English

note

most people are bilingual

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.85 years (1996 est.)

male

71.03 years

total population

72.91 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

female

97%

male

98%

total population

97%

Nationality

adjective

American Samoan

noun

American Samoan(s)

Net migration rate

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

Population

59,566 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

3.77% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US)

Capital

Pago Pago

Constitution

ratified 1966, in effect 1967

Data code

AQ

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

chief of state

President (of the US) William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) are popularly elected by the citizens of the US

head of government

Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993) and Lieutenant Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993) were elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - A. P. LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%

Flag

blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer 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

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

Independence

none (territory of the US)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

High Court, chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)

Name of country

abbreviation

AS

conventional long form

Territory of American Samoa

conventional short form

American Samoa

National holiday

Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Political parties and leaders

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; percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) number of seats by party NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

US diplomatic representation

none (territory of the US)

US 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

Agriculture

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy farming

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)

revenues

$97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue)

Currency

1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

note

$21 million in operational funds and $1.2 million in construction funds for capital improvement projects from the US Department of Interior (1991)

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, 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 US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.

Electricity

capacity

30,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,505 kWh (1993)

production

90 million kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

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

commodities

canned tuna 93%

partners

US 99.6%

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

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

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$2,600 (1991 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989)

commodities

materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%

partners

US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), meat canning, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA

Labor force

14,400 (1990)

by occupation

government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate

12% (1991)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic

good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

8,399

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

8,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

note

small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu (1995 est.)

total

3

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

2

Highways

paved

150 km

total

350 km

unpaved

200 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

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

Railways

0 km