2015 Edition

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.

Area

land

199 sq km

note

includes Rose Island and Swains Island

total

199 sq km

water

0 sq km

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

highest point

Lata Mountain 964 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

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 13.3%; permanent crops 8.4%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

21.7%

forest

78.3%

other

0% (2011 est.)

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway 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

volcanism

limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century

Natural resources

pumice, pumicite

Terrain

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

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.)

Birth rate

22.89 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

4.75 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

6.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

11.16 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.69 deaths/1,000 live births

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.28 years (2015 est.)

male

72.18 years

total population

75.14 years

Major urban areas - population

PAGO PAGO (capital) 48,000 (2014)

Median age

female

28.3 years (2015 est.)

male

29.4 years

total

28.8 years

Nationality

adjective

American Samoan

noun

American Samoan(s) (US nationals)

Net migration rate

-21.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Population

54,343 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.3% (2015 est.)

Religions

Christian 98.3%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.7% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 62.5% of population

rural: 62.5% of population

total: 62.5% of population

urban: 37.5% of population

rural: 37.5% of population

total: 37.5% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.92 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

87.2% of total population (2015)

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 2 islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western

Capital

geographic coordinates

14 16 S, 170 42 W

name

Pago Pago

time difference

UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see United States

Constitution

adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967; amended 1971, 1977, 1979 (2015)

Country name

abbreviation

AS

conventional long form

Territory of American Samoa

conventional short form

American Samoa

etymology

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly

chief of state

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

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%

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)

head of government

Governor Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (since 3 January 2013)

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

AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC

Judicial branch

note - American Samoa has no US federal courts

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)

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of US common law and customary law

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)

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

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)

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)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Mariota Tiumalu TUIASOSOPO/Napoleon Andrew TUITELELEAPAGA

name

"Amerika Samoa" (American Samoa)

note

local anthem adopted 1950; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

National holiday

Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

National symbol(s)

a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff); national colors: red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]

Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$243.7 million (2013 est.)

revenues

$241.2 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

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. 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.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$459 million (2013 est.)

$489 million (2012)

Exports - commodities

canned tuna 93%

Exports - partners

US 100%

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

54.4%

government consumption

52.8%

household consumption

54.6%

imports of goods and services

-66.8% (2013)

investment if fixed capital

2.7%

investment in inventories

2.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

27.4%

industry

12.4%

services

60.2% (2012)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,000 (2013 est.)

$13,100 (2012 est.)

$11,700 (2011 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-2.4% (2013 est.)

-2.7% (2012 est.)

0.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$748.6 million (2005)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$711 million (2013 est.)

$718 million (2012 est.)

$647 million (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$564 million (2013 est.)

$508 million (2012)

Imports - commodities

raw materials for canneries, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2013)

3.5% (2012)

Labor force

16,090 (2013)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA

industry

13.1%

services

86.9% (2013)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

32.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

29.8% (2005)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

607,000 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

146 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

45,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

156.4 million kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,375 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0.09 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,346 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)

Internet country code

.as

Internet users

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Telephone system

domestic

domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station

general assessment

good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services

international

country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

9,900

Television broadcast stations

1 (2006)

Airports

3 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

914 to 1,523 m

1

over 3,047 m

1

total

3

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Pago Pago

Roadways

total

241 km (2008)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

14,129 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

14,562

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

762 (2010 est.)

male

775

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes - international

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