ARCHIVE // AS // 2016

American Samoa

2016 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
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 [time series]
.as
Internet users [time series]
total: 17,000 | percent of population: 31.3% (July 2015 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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 - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 10,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Budget [time series]
revenues: $241.2 million | expenditures: $243.7 million (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-0.3% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45
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 accounted for 13.1% of employment in 2013. | 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 oversaw 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. In 2015, a new fish processing company completed refurbishing the processing facilities left behind by one of the two canneries that closed in 2009 and opened a new cannery. With two operating canneries once again, fish processing and exports will rise in the coming years.
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$459 million (2013 est.) | $489 million (2012) | country comparison to the world: 174
Exports - commodities [time series]
canned tuna 93%
Exports - partners [time series]
US 100%
Fiscal year [time series]
1 October - 30 September
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$748.6 million (2005)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$711 million (2013 est.) | $718 million (2012 est.) | $647 million (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 54.6% | government consumption: 52.8% | investment if fixed capital: 2.7% | investment in inventories: 2.3% | exports of goods and services: 54.4% | imports of goods and services: -66.8% (2012)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 27.4% | industry: 12.4% | services: 60.2% (2012)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$13,000 (2013 est.) | $13,100 (2012 est.) | $11,700 (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
-2.4% (2013 est.) | -2.7% (2012 est.) | 0.6% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$564 million (2013 est.) | $508 million (2012) | country comparison to the world: 192
Imports - commodities [time series]
raw materials for canneries, 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]
2.1% (2013) | 3.5% (2012) | country comparison to the world: 122
Labor force [time series]
16,090 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 214
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: NA | industry: 13.1% | services: 86.9% (2013)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
32.2% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74
Unemployment rate [time series]
29.8% (2005) | country comparison to the world: 186
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
600,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 105
Electricity - consumption [time series]
100 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
41,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - production [time series]
200 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 22,219 | electrification - total population: 59% | electrification - urban areas: 60% | electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 110
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
2,375 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0.09 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
2,346 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 199 sq km | land: 199 sq km | water: 0 sq km | note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island | country comparison to the world: 216
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 [time series]
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
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 [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]
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 21.7% | arable land 13.3%; permanent crops 8.4%; permanent pasture 0% | forest: 78.3% | other: 0% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway 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: 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 3 districts and 2 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)
Citizenship [time series]
see United States
Constitution [time series]
adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967; amended several times, last in 2013 (2016)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa | conventional short form: American Samoa | abbreviation: AS | etymology: the name Samoa is composed of two parts, "sa" meaning "sacred" and "moa" meaning "center," so the name can mean Holy Center; alternatively, it can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology
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 Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (since 3 January 2013) | cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly | elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); 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 directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020) | election results: Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA re-elected governor; percent of vote - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (independent) 60.2%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA (Democratic Party) 35.8%
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 US and American Samoa
Government type [time series]
presidential democracy; a self-governing territory of the US
Independence [time series]
none (territory of the US)
International organization participation [time series]
AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC
Judicial branch [time series]
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 [time series]
mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (18 seats; members indirectly selected by regional governing councils to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members directly elected by simple majority vote and 1 decided by public meeting on Swains Island; members serve 2-year terms) | elections: House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2016); Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 20 | note: American Samoa elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on November 2016)
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)
National symbol(s) [time series]
a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff); national colors: red, white, blue
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU] | Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 24.04% (male 6,381/female 6,646) | 15-24 years: 18.76% (male 4,983/female 5,185) | 25-54 years: 42.62% (male 11,907/female 11,188) | 55-64 years: 9.18% (male 2,438/female 2,535) | 65 years and over: 5.41% (male 1,342/female 1,589) (2016 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
22.9 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69
Death rate [time series]
4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Pacific Islander 92.6% (includes Samoan 88.9%, Tongan 2.9%, other .8%), Asian 3.6% (includes Filipino 2.2%, other 1.4%), mixed 2.7%, other 1.2% (2010 est.)
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: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148
Languages [time series]
Samoan 88.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 3.9%, Tongan 2.7%, other Pacific islander 3%, other 1.8% | note: most people are bilingual (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 75.4 years | male: 72.4 years | female: 78.5 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104
Major infectious diseases [time series]
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
PAGO PAGO (capital) 48,000 (2014)
Median age [time series]
total: 29.4 years | male: 29.9 years | female: 28.8 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Nationality [time series]
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals) | adjective: American Samoan
Net migration rate [time series]
-20.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 221
Population [time series]
54,194 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.25% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 217
Religions [time series]
Christian 98.3%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.7% (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 62.5% of population | rural: 62.5% of population | total: 62.5% of population | urban: 37.5% of population | rural: 37.5% of population | total: 37.5% of population (2015 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 0.96 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.87 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 87.2% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: -0.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution
Transportation
Airports [time series]
3 (2016) | country comparison to the world: 192
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 3 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Pago Pago
Roadways [time series]
total: 241 km (2008) | country comparison to the world: 207