American Samoa
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the USIndependence none (territory of the US)
American Samoa as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 110 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km | south-southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and New | Zealand
26 fieldsLocation
Oceania, Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km south-southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
total area
199 sq km
land area
199 sq km
comparative area
slightly larger than Washington, DC
note
includes Rose Island and Swains Island
contiguous zone
24 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
territorial 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 (Rose Island, Swains Island)
arable land
10%
permanent crops
5%
meadows and pastures
0%
forest and woodland
75%
other
10%
rent issues
NA
ural hazards
typhoons common from December to March
ernational 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
People
21 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
Total population
72.91 years
male
71.03 years
female
74.85 years (1994 est.)
noun
American Samoan(s)
adjective
American Samoan
Languages
Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English; most people are bilingual
total population
97%
male
97%
female
97%
by occupation
government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Government
Unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US
24 fieldsconventional 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
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%
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
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 conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade.
25 fieldsOverview
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.
revenues
$97 million (includes $43,000,000 in local revenue and $54,000,000 in grant revenue);
expenditures
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91)
commodities
canned tuna 93%
partners
US 99.6%
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%
capacity
42,000 kW
production
100 million kWh
consumption per capita
2,020 kWh (1990)
Agriculture
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming
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)
Communications
13 fieldstotal
350 km
paved
150 km
unpaved
200 km
total
4
usable
4
with permanent-surface runways
2
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 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “American Samoa.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/american-samoa/1994.