2009 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2009 (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 country comparison to the world: 215 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: 33.4% (male 11,159/female 10,768) 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 20,848/female 20,271) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,211/female 1,371) (2009 est.)
Birth rate
23.31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Death rate
4.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
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: 10.18 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 153 male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 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: 73.72 years country comparison to the world: 98 male: 70.8 years female: 76.82 years (2009 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.)
Median age
total: 23.1 years male: 23 years female: 23.3 years (2009 est.)
Nationality
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals) adjective: American Samoan
Net migration rate
-6.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Population
65,628 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Population growth rate
1.222% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
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: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.29 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Urbanization
urban population: 92% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) 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 Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)and 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) 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: $155.4 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants) expenditures: $183.6 million (FY07)
Debt - external
$NA
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.
Electricity - consumption
172.1 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - production
185 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Exports
$445.6 million (FY04 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Exports - commodities
canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$8,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $5,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3% (2003) country comparison to the world: 123
GDP (official exchange rate)
$462.2 million (2005)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$575.3 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 $510.1 million (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$308.8 million (FY04 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)
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) country comparison to the world: 203
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 34% industry: 33% services: 33% (1990)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - consumption
4,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - imports
4,140 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
29.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 175
Communications
Internet country code
.as
Internet hosts
1,606 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153
Internet users
NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
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 (2008) country comparison to the world: 202
Telephones - mobile cellular
2,200 (2004) country comparison to the world: 215
Television broadcast stations
1 (2006)
Transportation
Airports
3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 194
Airports - with paved runways
total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Ports and terminals
Pago Pago
Roadways
total: 221 km (2007) country comparison to the world: 205
Military and Security
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 13,875 females age 16-49: 13,517 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 820 female: 802 (2009 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 page last updated on October 28, 2009