AMERICAN SAMOA
Geography People Government Economy Transportation Communications Defense Forces
AMERICAN SAMOA
(territory of the US)
@American Samoa:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references: Oceania
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AMERICAN SAMOA - MAJOR CITIES
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Latitude, Internat'l Time
Population Longitude Phone Code Zone
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PAGO PAGO 3,000 14.16S,170.42W 684- GMT-11
Fagatogo 2,000 14.17S,170.42W 684- GMT-11
Leone 2,000 14.21S,170.47W 684- GMT-11
Utulei 1,000 14.17S,170.41W 684- GMT-11
Vaitogi 1,000 14.22S,170.44W 684- GMT-11
Maia N/A 14.13S,169.26W 684- GMT-11
Luma N/A 14.14S,169.31W 684- GMT-11
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Area:
total area: 199 sq km
land area: 199 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: 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
Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal
plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Natural resources: pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 75%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
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
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
@American Samoa:People
Population: 57,366 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.82% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 36.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 74.85 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic divisions: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%,
other 5%
Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,
Protestant denominations and other 30%
Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian
languages), English; most people are bilingual
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97%
Labor force: 14,400 (1990)
by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
@American Samoa:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
Abbreviation: AS
Digraph: AQ
Type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered
by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and
International Affairs
Capital: Pago Pago
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
House of Representatives: 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)
Senate: 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
US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next
to be held NA November 1994); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
reelected as delegate
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: NA
Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
Flag: 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
Economy
Overview: 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.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991
est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $2,600 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)
Budget:
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)
Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities: canned tuna 93%
partners: US 99.6%
Imports: $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%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 30,000 kW
production: 90 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)
Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing
vessels), meat canning, handicrafts
Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams,
copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming
Economic aid:
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)
Currency: 1 United States dollar = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@American Samoa:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 350 km
paved: 150 km
unpaved: 200 km
Ports: Aanu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago,
Ta'u
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
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
@American Samoa:Communications
Telephone system: 8,399 telephones; good telex, telegraph, and
facsimile services
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) and 1 COMSAT earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 1
televisions: NA
@American Samoa:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US