2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
Settled as early as 1000 B. C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in 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
Area
includes Rose Island and Swains Island water: Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Climate
tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
116 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata 966 m
Environment - current issues
limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines
Geographic coordinates
14 20 S, 170 00 W
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
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 5% permanent crops: 10% other: 85% (1998 est.)
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Natural hazards
typhoons common from December to March
Natural resources
pumice, pumicite
Terrain
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 38.1% (male 13,445; female 12,688) 15-64 years: 56.7% (male 19,228; female 19,741) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 1,931; female 1,655) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
24.04 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
10.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English note: most people are bilingual
Life expectancy at birth
80.21 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 3.4 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.)
Nationality
noun: American Samoan(s) adjective: American Samoan
Net migration rate
3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population
68,688 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
2.31% (2002 est.)
Religions
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Capital
Pago Pago
Constitution
ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS
Dependency status
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of the US)
Executive branch
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) election results: Tauese P. SUNIA reelected governor; percent of vote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 50.7%, Lealaifuaneva Peter REID (independent) 47.8% elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) head of government: Togiola TULAFONO (since 3 January 1997) cabinet: NA
Flag 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
Government type
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 Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) note: Representatives; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate for a sixth term election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 18
National holiday
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Budget
revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants) expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Currency code
USD
Debt - external
$NA
Economic aid - recipient
important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994
Economy - overview
This is 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 foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. 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, a developing sector, has been held back by the recurring financial difficulties in East Asia.
Electricity - consumption
120.9 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production
130 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Exports
$345 million (1999)
Exports - commodities
canned tuna 93%
Exports - partners
US 99.6%
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
GDP
purchasing power parity - $500 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$452 million (1999)
Imports - commodities
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%
Imports - partners
US 62%, Australia 11%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Fiji 4%, other 7%
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
14,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation
government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
6% (2000)
Communications
Internet country code
.as
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
57,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
13,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
2,550 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
14,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
4 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Highways
total: 350 km paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km
Merchant marine
none (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors
Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u
Railways
0 km
Waterways
none
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Argentina