American Samoa
Territory of American Samoa
NAIndependence none (territory of the US)
American Samoa as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about | one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
18 fieldsLand useshare of 199 sq km
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to 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)
Environment - current issues
limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines
Geography - 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
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1997 est.)
Male · female
Government
NA; Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola Tulafono (since 3 January 1997)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Territory of American Samoa
- conventional short form:
- American Samoa
- abbreviation:
- AS
Dependency status
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
Executive branch
- chief of state :
- President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
- head of government:
- Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola Tulafono (since 3 January 1997)
- cabinet:
- NA
- elections:
- governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms;
- election last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
- election results:
- Tauese P. SUNIA elected governor of American Samoa; percent of vote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 51%, Peter REID (Independent) 49%
Legislative branch
bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs who serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- House of Representatives - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); Senate - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
- election results :
- House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - NA;
- Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - NA
note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Judicial branch
High Court, chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior
Flag description
- blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer 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 the great bulk of its foreign | trade.
22 fieldsEconomy - overview
Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts the great bulk 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. According to one observer, 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.
Budget
- revenues:
- $97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue)
- expenditures:
- $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)
Agriculture - products
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy farming
Imports
- total value:
- $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%
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular phone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Transportation
6 fieldsMilitary
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “American Samoa.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/american-samoa/1997.