American Samoa

• 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

• 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

total:

30.6 years (2025 est.)

male:

29.4 years

female:

30.6 years

at birth:

1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.88 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

9.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

7.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

75.8 years (2024 est.)

male:

73.4 years

female:

78.5 years

• limited supply of drinking water;
• pollution;
• waste disposal;
• coastal and stream alteration;
• soil erosion

• 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

urban population:

87.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

conventional long form:

American Samoa

conventional short form:

American Samoa

former:

Eastern Samoa

abbreviation:

AS

etymology:

• the name's meaning is disputed;
• according to one theory, sa means "sacred" and moa means "center," so the name can mean "Holy Center";
• alternatively, some assert that the name can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology;
• however, the name may pre-date the Polynesian era (before 1000 B.C.), with sa'a meaning "tribe or people" and moa meaning "deep sea," or "people of the deep sea"

• unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government;
• republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

name:

Pago Pago

geographic coordinates:

14 16 S, 170 42 W

time difference:

UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

note: pronounced PAHN-go PAHN-go

• no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 districts and 2 islands* are considered second-order;
• Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western

history:

adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967

amendment process:

• proposed by either house of the Legislative Assembly;
• passage requires three-fifths majority vote by the membership of each house, approval by simple majority vote in a referendum, approval by the US Secretary of the Interior, and only by an act of the US Congress

chief of state:

President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

head of government:

Governor Nikolao PULA (since 3 January 2025)

cabinet:

Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature or Fono

election/appointment process:

• 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)

most recent election date:

19 November 2024

election results:

• Lemanu Peleti MAUGA elected governor in first round;
• percent of vote - Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (independent) 60.3%, Gaoteote Palaie TOFAU (independent) 21.9%, I'aulualo Fa'afetai TALIA (independent) 12.3%

expected date of next election:

November 2028

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

note: American Samoa has no US federal courts

description:

• a large white triangle edged in red is based on the right side and extends to the left side, and it is on a dark blue field;
• a bald eagle holding a Samoan war club ( fa'alaufa'i ) and a coconut-fiber fly whisk ( fue ) sits on the right side of the flag

meaning:

• the war club and fly whisk are traditional Samoan symbols of authority;
• the eagle carrying two objects echoes the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa;
• the red, white, and blue colors are traditionally used by both countries

title:

"Amerika Samoa" (American Samoa)

lyrics/music:

Mariota Tiumalu TUIASOSOPO/Napoleon Andrew TUITELELEAPAGA

history:

local anthem adopted 1950; _____

title:

"The Star-Spangled Banner"

lyrics/music:

Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

history:

official anthem, as a US territory

• tourism, tuna, and government services-based territorial economy;
• sustained economic decline;
• vulnerable tuna canning industry;
• large territorial government presence;
• minimum wage increases to rise to federal standards by 2036

• 3 TV stations;
• multi-channel pay TV services are available;
• about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations

total ports:

1 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

1

very small:

0

ports with oil terminals:

1

key ports:

Pago Pago Harbor