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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

3 television stations broadcasting; multi-channel pay-per-view television services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)

Internet country code [time series]

.as

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,676 (2010) country comparison to the world: 157

Internet users [time series]

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 (2009) country comparison to the world: 200

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2,200 (2004) country comparison to the world: 214

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

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. 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.

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: 169

Exports - commodities [time series]

canned tuna 93%

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: 212 $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: 124 $5,800 (2005 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3% (2003) country comparison to the world: 119

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: 194

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

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: 210

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: 112

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Oil - consumption [time series]

4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Oil - imports [time series]

4,140 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

29.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 176

Geography

Area [time series]

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]

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 volcanism: American Samoa experiences limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands, neither has erupted since the 19th century

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 on 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 (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 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]

Independence [time series]

none (territory of the US)

International organization participation [time series]

AOSIS, 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]

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 on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); 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 - 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 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [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: 14,230 females age 16-49: 13,842 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 810 female: 796 (2010 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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Death rate [time series]

4.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

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]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 9.91 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 152 male: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 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: 73.97 years country comparison to the world: 104 male: 71.04 years female: 77.08 years (2010 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: 23.4 years male: 23.3 years female: 23.6 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Population [time series]

66,432 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Population growth rate [time series]

1.212% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.061 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.22 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

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 (2010) country comparison to the world: 190

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Pago Pago

Roadways [time series]

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