![[Country map of American Samoa]](aq.gif)
(territory of the US)
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 199 sq km
land area: 199 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April, dry season from 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)
Natural resources: pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 75%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas of the island
water supplies come from roof catchments
natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
international agreements: NA
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
Population: 57,366 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.82% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 36.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 74.85 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic divisions: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant denominations and other 30%
Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English; most people are bilingual
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97%
Labor force: 14,400 (1990)
by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Names:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
Abbreviation: AS
Digraph: AQ
Type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
Capital: Pago Pago
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993); Lieutenant Governor Tauese
P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993); election last held 3 November 1992 (next
to be held NA November 1996); results - A. P. LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter
Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994);
results - representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts; seats
- (21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swains Island)
Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996);
results - senators elected by village chiefs from 12 senate districts; seats
- (18 total) number of seats by party NA
US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994);
results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: NA
Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
Flag: 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 staff and a war club
Overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $2,600 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)
Budget:
revenues: $97 million (includes $43,000,000 in local revenue and $54,000,000
in grant revenue);
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)
Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities: canned tuna 93%
partners: US 99.6%
Imports: $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery
and parts 6%
partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 30,000 kW
production: 90 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)
Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), meat canning, handicrafts
Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming
Economic aid:
recipient: $21,042,650 in operational funds and $1,227,000 in construction funds
for capital improvement projects from the US Department of Interior (1991)
Currency: 1 United States dollar = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 350 km
paved: 150 km
unpaved: 200 km
Ports: Aanu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 3
note: small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu
Telephone system: 8,399 telephones; good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) and 1 COMSAT earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 1
televisions: NA
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US