American Samoa

Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was not reached by European explorers until the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.

• 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

at birth:

1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.06 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.86 male(s)/female

total population:

1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

conventional long form:

Territory of American Samoa

conventional short form:

American Samoa

abbreviation:

AS

name:

Pago Pago

geographic coordinates:

14 16 S, 170 42 W

time difference:

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

• none (territory of the US);
• there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order;
• Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western

chief of state:

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

head of government:

Governor Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (since 3 January 2013)

cabinet:

Cabinet made up of 12 department directors; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)

elections:

• 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 elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 6 November 2012 with a runoff election held on 20 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)

election results:

runoff election percent of vote - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA 52.9%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA 47.1%

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); note - American Samoa has no US federal courts

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

• 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 war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon);
• the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa

name:

"Amerika Samoa" (American Samoa)

lyrics/music:

Mariota Tiumalu TUIASOSOPO/Napoleon Andrew TUITELELEAPAGA

note: local anthem adopted 1950; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

agriculture:

NA%

industry:

NA%

services:

NA%

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

general assessment:

good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services

domestic:

domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station

international:

country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)

• 3 TV stations;
• multi-channel pay TV services are available;
• about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)

males age 16-49:

14,562

females age 16-49:

14,129 (2010 est.)

male:

775

female:

762 (2010 est.)