2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (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
total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Washington, DC
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
Coastline
116 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata Mountain 964 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
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 15% other: 75% (2005)
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 34.4% (male 11,337/female 10,946) 15-64 years: 61.8% (male 20,335/female 19,728) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 1,161/female 1,320) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
4.13 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 10.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2% note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 73.47 years male: 70.55 years female: 76.56 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.)
Median age
total: 22.8 years male: 22.7 years female: 23 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals) adjective: American Samoan
Net migration rate
-7.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
64,827 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
1.236% (2008 est.)
Religions
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.35 children born/woman (2008 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
name: Pago Pago geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 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); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003) cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors elections: 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 elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 and 18 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Togiola TULAFONO reelected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 56.5%, Afoa Moega LUTU 43.5%
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (territory of the US)
International organization participation
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
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 members 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 to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) 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 note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
National holiday
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
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 (FY96/97)
Currency (code)
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
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. 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. note: as a territory of the US, American Samoa does not treat the US as an external trade partner
Electricity - consumption
167.4 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
180 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Exports
$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
Exports - commodities
canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)
Exports - partners
Indonesia 28.2%, India 22.3%, Australia 15.3%, Japan 11.2%, NZ 7.1% (2006)
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$5,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3% (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$333.8 million (2005)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$510.1 million (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
Imports - commodities
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)
Imports - partners
Australia 66%, Samoa 13.8%, NZ 10.8% (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
17,630 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 34% industry: 33% services: 33% (1990)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption
4,053 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
4,066 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
29.8% (2005)
Communications
Internet country code
.as
Internet hosts
1,923 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
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: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
10,400 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular
2,200 (2004)
Television broadcast stations
1 (2006)
Televisions
14,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals
Pago Pago
Roadways
total: 221 km (2007)
Military and Security
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 806 female: 781 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Tokelau periodically asserts claims to American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega), such as in its 2006 draft independence constitution This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008