1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area-comparative
slightly larger than Washington, DC
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
Coastline
116 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata 966 m
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
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
14 20 S, 170 00 W
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
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 5% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 70% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
typhoons common from December to March
Natural resources
pumice, pumicite
Terrain
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 39% (male 12,575; female 11,824) 15-64 years: 56% (male 17,513; female 17,477) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,364; female 1,340) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
27.31 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
4.03 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Infant mortality rate
10.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English note: most people are bilingual
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.23 years male: 70.95 years female: 79.77 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.)
Nationality
noun: American Samoan(s) adjective: American Samoan
Net migration rate
4.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
62,093 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
2.74% (1998 est.)
Religions
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant denominations and other 30%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.72 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three political districts
Constitution
ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS
Data code
AQ
Dependency status
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
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%
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (territory of the US)
International organization participation
ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Judicial branch
High Court, chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party; Republican Party
Legal system
NA
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 (Democrat) reelected as delegate
National capital
Pago Pago
National holiday
Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy farming
Budget
revenues: $97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue) expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)
Currency
1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA note: important financial support from the US
Economy-overview
This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. 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. 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. Tourism, a developing sector, may be held back in 1998 by the financial difficulties in East Asia.
Electricity-capacity
33,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
1,830 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
105 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
total value: $318 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: canned tuna 93% partners: US 99.6%
Fiscal year
1 October-30 September Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$150 million (1995 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$2,600 (1995 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
total value: $418 million (c.i.f., 1992) 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%
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Inflation rate-consumer price index
NA %
Labor force
total: 14,400 (1990) by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios
NA
Telephone 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)
Telephones
9,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1
Televisions
12,000 (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
12% (1991)
Transportation
Airports
4 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 350 km paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km Ports and harbors: Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none