American Samoa

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 hosts

2,387 (2012) country comparison to the world: 161

Internet users

NA

Telephone system

general assessment: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services domestic: 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

10,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 200

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $155.4 million (2007) expenditures: $183.6 million (2007)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.1% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 177

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 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.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$445.6 million (FY04 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Exports - commodities

canned tuna 93%

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP (official exchange rate)

$462.2 million (2005)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$575.3 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 214 $510.1 million (2003 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $5,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2003) country comparison to the world: 107

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$308.8 million (FY04 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

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)

NA%

Labor force

17,630 (2005) country comparison to the world: 211

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

33.6% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 74

Unemployment rate

29.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 178

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

426,200 Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - consumption

147.9 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - installed generating capacity

60,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - production

155 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 110

Refined petroleum products - consumption

5,115 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,003 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Refined petroleum products - production

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

Area

total: 199 sq km country comparison to the world: 216 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 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: 9.5% permanent crops: 15% other: 75.5% (2011)

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 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)

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 (2013)

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 Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (since 3 January 2013) cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors (For more information visit theWorld 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 6 November 2012 with a runoff election held on 20 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016) election results: runoff election percent of vote - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA 52.9%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA 47.1%

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

Judicial branch

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) note - American Samoa has no US federal courts 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

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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016) 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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

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)

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

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.

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.2% (male 6,809/female 7,005) 15-24 years: 20.9% (male 5,657/female 5,760) 25-54 years: 41.5% (male 11,662/female 11,028) 55-64 years: 7.7% (male 2,096/female 2,134) 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 1,189/female 1,379) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

22.84 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Death rate

4.62 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

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: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 150 male: 11.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 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: 74.68 years country comparison to the world: 106 male: 71.73 years female: 77.8 years (2013 est.)

Literacy

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

Major urban areas - population

PAGO PAGO (capital) 64,000 (2011)

Median age

total: 27.8 years male: 28.3 years female: 27.3 years (2013 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-22.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 222

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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

Population

54,719 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Population growth rate

-0.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 221

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.04 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

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

Airports

3 (2013) country comparison to the world: 193

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Pago Pago

Roadways

total: 241 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 206