American Samoa

Territory of American Samoa

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

American Samoa as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 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
Locationin the South Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km south-southwest of Honolulu, about
1993

Every edition of American Samoa

Populationas each edition published it
53,139 people July 1993 est. · 41,840 in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.9% 1993 est. · -1.33% in 2025
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 21.6 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
73 years 1993 est. · 75.8 yrs in 2025
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.41 children per woman 1993 est. · 5.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
19 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 11 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,600 1991 · $11,200 in 2024
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 3% in 2006

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 199 km2

arable land 10%permanent crops 5%meadows and pastures 0%forest and woodland 75%other 10%
Area
199km2
land area: 199 km2comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DCnote: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Coastline
116km
land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

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

Environment

typhoons common from December to March

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

14 fields
Population
53,139
(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 3.9% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth
37Death
4Net migration
6

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years73
71 · 75
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy97%
97% · 97%
MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Ethnic divisions

Samoan (Polynesian) 89%Caucasian 2%Tongan 4%other 5%

Religions

Christian Congregationalist 50%Roman Catholic 20%Protestant denominations and other 30%
Labor force
14,400
(1990)by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)

Infant mortality rate

19 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.41 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:
American Samoan(s)
adjective:
American Samoan

Languages

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

Government

Unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US

20 fields

Names

conventional long form:
Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form:
American Samoa

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)

Constitution

ratified 1966, in effect 1967

National holiday

Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Elections

Governor:
last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - A. P. LUTALI was elected (percent of vote NA)
House of Representatives:
  • 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:
  • 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:
last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

Executive branch

popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor

Legislative branch

bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono) consists of an upper house or Senate (appointed by county village chiefs) and a lower house or House of Representatives (elected)

Judicial branch

High Court

Leaders

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)

Member of

ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC

Diplomatic representation in US

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

Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa | does 80-90% of its foreign trade.

17 fields

Overview

Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa does 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 equivalent - $128 million (1991)

Budget

revenues $97,000,000 (includes $43,000,000 in local revenue and $54,000,000 in grant revenue); including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91)

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%

Electricity

42,000 kW capacity; 100 million kWh produced, 2,020 kWh per capita (1990)

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

$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

US currency is used

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Communications

5 fields

Highways

350 km total; 150 km paved, 200 km unpaved

Ports

Pago Pago, Ta'u, Ofu, Auasi, Aanu'u (new construction), Faleosao

Airports

total:
3
usable:
3
with permanent-surface runways:
3
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440 to 3,659 m :
1 (international airport at Tafuna)
with runways 1,200 to 2,439 m:
0

note: small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu

Telecommunications

  • 8,399 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
  • good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station, 1 COMSAT earth station

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Central Intelligence Agency. “American Samoa.” The World Factbook 1993. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/american-samoa/1993.

How to cite ← 1992 edition 1994 edition →