American Samoa

American Samoa

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

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

14 20 S, 170 00 W

Map references

Oceania

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

116 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

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

Terrain

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:Lata Mountain 964 m

Natural resources

pumice, pumicite

Land use

arable land: 10%
permanent crops:15%
other:75% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

typhoons common from December to March
volcanism:American Samoa experiences limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands, neither has erupted since the 19th century

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

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective:American Samoan

Ethnic groups

native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)

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)

Religions

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

Population

67,242 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.9% (male 10,910/female 10,518)
15-64 years:63.9% (male 21,764/female 21,228)
65 years and over:4.2% (male 1,322/female 1,500) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 23.7 years
male:23.6 years
female:23.9 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.211% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Birth rate

22.84 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Death rate

4.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

Net migration rate

-6.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Urbanization

urban population: 93% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

PAGO PAGO (capital) 60,000 (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 151 male:12.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female:6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.21 years
country comparison to the world: 105 male:71.27 years
female:77.32 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.16 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

74.6% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 1

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:97%
male:98%
female:97% (1980 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Government

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

Government type

NA

Capital

name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates:14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference:UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Independence

none (territory of the US)

National holiday

Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution

ratified 2 June 1966

effective 1 July 1967

Legal system

mixed legal system of US common law and customary law

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 on 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%

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 on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)

Senate – last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results:House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – independents 20

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 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)

results – Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

Judicial branch

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

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)

International organization participation

AOSIS, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of the US)

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

National anthem

name: “Amerika Samoa” (American Samoa)
lyrics/music:Mariota Tiumalu TUIASOSOPO/Napoleon Andrew TUITELELEAPAGA
note:local anthem adopted 1950

as a territory of the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner” is official (see United States)

Economy

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 account for 80% of employment. 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 is overseeing 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$575.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211 $510.1 million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$462.2 million (2005)

GDP – real growth rate

3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 124

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$8,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 $5,800 (2005 est.)

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: NA%
industry:NA%
services:NA%

Labor force

17,630 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 209

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 34%
industry:33%
services:33% (1990)

Unemployment rate

29.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 174

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Budget

revenues: $155.4 million (FY07)
expenditures:$183.6 million (FY07)

Taxes and other revenues

33.6% of GDP (FY07)
country comparison to the world: 74

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.1% of GDP (FY07)
country comparison to the world: 163

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Agriculture – products

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas

dairy products, livestock

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

190 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity – consumption

176.7 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Oil – consumption

4,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Oil – imports

4,440 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Exports

$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Exports – commodities

canned tuna 93%

Imports

$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Imports – commodities

raw materials for canneries 56%, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts

Debt – external

$NA

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Transportation

Airports

3 (2010)
country comparison to the world:191

Airports – with paved runways

total: 3
over 3,047 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 241 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 205

Ports and terminals

Pago Pago

Military

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 14,562
females age 16-49:14,129 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 775
female:762 (2010 est.)

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Tokelau included American Samoa’s Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution