|
Introduction - American Samoa
Background:
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.
Geography - American Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
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:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
116 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
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
Terrain:
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral
atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Natural resources:
pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons common from December to March
Environment - current issues:
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
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
People - American Samoa
Population:
66,432 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 11,007/female 10,618)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 21,335/female 20,778)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,263/female 1,431) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.4 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 23.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.212% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Birth rate:
23.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Death rate:
4.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Net migration rate:
-6.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.97 years
country comparison to the world: 104
male: 71.04 years
female: 77.08 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups:
native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
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)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government - American Samoa
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
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution:
ratified on 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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 Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
(For more information visit the World 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%
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 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 4 November 2008 (next to be held in
November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US
Secretary of the Interior)
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)
International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
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
Economy - American Samoa
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$575.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
$510.1 million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$462.2 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 58
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$5,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
17,630 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 209
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 33%
services: 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
29.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 175
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $155.4 million (FY07)
expenditures: $183.6 million (FY07)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples,
papayas; dairy products, livestock
Industries:
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
185 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Electricity - consumption:
172.1 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Oil - imports:
4,140 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Exports:
$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna 93%
Imports:
$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities:
raw materials for canneries 56%, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications - American Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,400 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 202
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,200 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 215
Telephone system:
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2006)
Internet country code:
.as
Internet hosts:
1,606 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 153
Internet users:
NA
Transportation - American Samoa
Airports:
3 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 190
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 221 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 206
Ports and terminals:
Pago Pago
Military - American Samoa
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 14,230
females age 16-49: 13,842 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 810
female: 796 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues - American Samoa
Disputes - international:
Tokelau periodically asserts claims to American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega),
such as in its 2006 draft independence constitution
|
