American Samoa

unincorporated and unorganized territory of the USIndependence none (territory of the US)

American Samoa as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPago Pago

Area199 km2

Populationas each edition published it

41,840 people July 1990 · 43,268 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 3.9% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 21.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 73 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.4 children per woman 1990 · 1.99 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

11 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 9.5 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $2,600 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 3% in 2006

Geography

14 fields

Land useshare of 199 km2

arable land 10%permanent crops 5%meadows and pastures 0%forest and woodland 75%other 10%

Total area

199km2

land area: 199 km2Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Coastline

116km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

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

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 about 3,700 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

People

15 fields

Population

41,840

(July 1990), growth rate 2.9% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

41Death

Ethnic divisions

Samoan (Polynesian) 90%Caucasian 2%Tongan 2%other 6%

Religion

Christian Congregationalist about 50%Roman Catholic 20%mostly Protestant denominations and other 30%

Literacy

99%

Nationality

noun--American Samoan(s); adjective--American Samoan

Language

Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages) and English; most people are bilingual

Labor force

10,000; 48% government, 33% tuna canneries, 19% other (1986 est.)

Note

about 65,000 American Samoans live in the States of California and Washington and 20,000 in Hawaii

Government

Unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US

15 fields

Type

unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US

Executive branch

US president, governor, lieutenant governor

Legislative branch

bicameral Legislature (Fono) consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch

High Court Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);
Head of Government--Governor Peter Tali COLEMAN (since 20 January 1989);
Lieutenant Governor Galea'i POUMELE (since NA 1989)

Suffrage

universal at age 18;
indigenous inhabitants are US nationals, not US citizens Governor--last held 7 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
results--Peter T. Coleman was elected (percent of vote NA);
Senate--last held 7 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
results--senators elected by county councils from 12 senate districts;
seats--(18 total) number of seats by party NA;
House of Representatives--last held 7 November 1988 (next to be held November 1990);
results--representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts;
seats--(21 total, 20 elected and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swain's Island);
US House of Representatives--last held 19 November 1988 (next to be held November 1990);
results--Eni R. F. H. Faleomavaega elected as a nonvoting delegate

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

Note

administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs; indigenous inhabitants are US nationals, not citizens of the US

Economy

Economic development is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa does 90% of its foreign trade.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

4.3%

(1989)

Unemployment rate

13.4%

(1986)

Imports $346 million (c.i.f., 1987)commodities, where a share is given

building materials

18%food

17%petroleum products

14%

; partners--US 72%, Japan 7%, NZ 7%, Australia 5%, other 9%

Budget

Revenues

$90.3 millionExpenditures

$93.15 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $4.9 million (1988)

Economic development is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa does 90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector economy, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries are the second-largest employer, exceeded only by the government.

Other economic activities include meat canning, handicrafts, dairy farming, and a slowly developing tourist industry. Tropical agricultural production provides little surplus for export.

GNP

$190 million, per capita $5,210; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Exports

$288 million (f.o.b., 1987);
commodities--canned tuna 93%;
partners--US 99.6%

Communications

5 fields

3 total, 3 usable;
1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m;
1 with runways 2,440 to 3,659 m (international airport at Tafuna, near Pago Pago);
small airstrips on Ta'u and Ofu