Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.as
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
1,606 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153
Internet users [time series]
NA
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: NA domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
10,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 202
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
2,200 (2004) country comparison to the world: 215
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (2006)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Budget [time series]
revenues: $155.4 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants) expenditures: $183.6 million (FY07)
Debt - external [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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. 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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
172.1 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
185 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$445.6 million (FY04 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Exports - commodities [time series]
canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$462.2 million (2005)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$575.3 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 $510.1 million (2003 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$8,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $5,800 (2005 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3% (2003) country comparison to the world: 123
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$308.8 million (FY04 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities [time series]
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
NA%
Labor force [time series]
17,630 (2005) country comparison to the world: 203
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 34% industry: 33% services: 33% (1990)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - consumption [time series]
4,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - imports [time series]
4,140 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
29.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 175
Geography
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 [time series]
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
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 [time series]
116 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines
Geographic coordinates [time series]
14 20 S, 170 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
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 [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 15% other: 75% (2005)
Location [time series]
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
typhoons common from December to March
Natural resources [time series]
pumice, pumicite
Terrain [time series]
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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 [time series]
name: Pago Pago geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
ratified 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS
Dependency status [time series]
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of the US)
Executive branch [time series]
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 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 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%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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 [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (territory of the US)
International organization participation [time series]
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
Legal system [time series]
NA
Legislative branch [time series]
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 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 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 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
National holiday [time series]
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 13,875 females age 16-49: 13,517 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 820 female: 802 (2009 est.)
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 33.4% (male 11,159/female 10,768) 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 20,848/female 20,271) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,211/female 1,371) (2009 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
23.31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Death rate [time series]
4.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 10.18 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 153 male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Languages [time series]
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 [time series]
total population: 73.72 years country comparison to the world: 98 male: 70.8 years female: 76.82 years (2009 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 23.1 years male: 23 years female: 23.3 years (2009 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals) adjective: American Samoan
Net migration rate [time series]
-6.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Population [time series]
65,628 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Population growth rate [time series]
1.222% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Religions [time series]
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
Sex ratio [time series]
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 (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.29 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 92% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Tokelau periodically asserts claims to American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega), such as in its 2006 draft independence constitution
Transportation
Airports [time series]
3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 194
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Pago Pago
Roadways [time series]
total: 221 km (2007) country comparison to the world: 205