Communications
Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
8,399 telephones; good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) and 1 COMSAT earth station
Broadcast media (Television) [time series]
broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA
Defense Forces
defense is the responsibility of the US ANDORRA
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming
Budget [time series]
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)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 United States dollar = 100 cents
Economic aid [time series]
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)
Electricity [time series]
capacity: 30,000 kW production: 90 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates [time series]
US currency is used
Exports [time series]
$306 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: canned tuna 93% partners: US 99.6%
Debt - external (External debt) [time series]
$NA
Fiscal year [time series]
1 October - 30 September
Imports [time series]
$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%
Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]
growth rate NA%
Industries [time series]
tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), meat canning, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
7% (1990)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]
GDP - purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991 est.)
Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]
$2,600 (1991)
Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Economic overview (Overview) [time series]
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.
Unemployment rate [time series]
12% (1991)
Geography
total area: 199 sq km land area: 199 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Climate [time series]
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
Coastline [time series]
116 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
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
Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]
none
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 75% other: 10%
Location [time series]
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources [time series]
pumice, pumicite
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
Terrain [time series]
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Government
Abbreviation [time series]
AS
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (territory of the US)
Capital [time series]
Pago Pago
Constitution [time series]
ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Digraph [time series]
AQ
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
none (territory of the US)
Executive branch [time series]
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%
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
Legislative branch (House of Representatives) [time series]
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)
Independence [time series]
none (territory of the US)
Judicial branch [time series]
High Court
Legal system [time series]
NA
Legislative branch [time series]
bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
International organization participation (Member of) [time series]
ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Country name (Names) [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa
National holiday [time series]
Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
NA
Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]
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
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type (Type) [time series]
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
Legislative branch (US House of Representatives) [time series]
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
none (territory of the US)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate [time series]
36.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate [time series]
4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Infant mortality rate [time series]
18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force [time series]
14,400 (1990) by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Languages [time series]
Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English; most people are bilingual
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 72.91 years male: 71.03 years female: 74.85 years (1995 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97%
Nationality [time series]
noun: American Samoan(s) adjective: American Samoan
Net migration rate [time series]
6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population [time series]
57,366 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
3.82% (1995 est.)
Religions [time series]
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant denominations and other 30%
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
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
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 350 km paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km
Merchant marine [time series]
none
Aanu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u
Railways (Railroads) [time series]
0 km