Page last updated on December 17, 2013
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.
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
total: 199 sq km
country comparison to the world: 216
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
slightly larger than Washington, DC
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
arable land: 9.5%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75.5% (2011)
typhoons common from December to March
volcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century
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
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
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan
native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)
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)
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
54,719 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 6,809/female 7,005)
15-24 years: 20.9% (male 5,657/female 5,760)
25-54 years: 41.5% (male 11,662/female 11,028)
55-64 years: 7.7% (male 2,096/female 2,134)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 1,189/female 1,379) (2013 est.)
total: 27.8 years
male: 28.3 years
female: 27.3 years (2013 est.)
-0.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
22.84 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
4.62 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
-22.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
urban population: 93% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
PAGO PAGO (capital) 64,000 (2011)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 150
male: 11.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 74.68 years
country comparison to the world: 106
male: 71.73 years
female: 77.8 years (2013 est.)
3.04 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
74.6% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 1
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
none (territory of the US)
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967 (2013)
mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
18 years of age; universal
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 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 on 6 November 2012 with a runoff election held on 20 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)
election results: runoff election percent of vote - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA 52.9%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA 47.1%
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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 20; 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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
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)
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
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]
Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
AOSIS, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
none (territory of the US)
none (territory of the US)
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
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)
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.
$575.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 107
$8,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
17,630 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 211
29.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 178
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $155.4 million (2007)
expenditures: $183.6 million (2007)
33.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 74
-6.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 177
$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
raw materials for canneries, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts
155 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
147.9 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
60,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 103
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
5,115 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
2,003 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 110
426,200 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
10,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 200
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)
3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)
2,387 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 161
3 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 193
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
total: 241 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 206
major seaport(s): Pago Pago
males age 16-49: 14,562
females age 16-49: 14,129 (2010 est.)
male: 775
female: 762 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the US
