American Samoa (2004) | Glorioso Islands (2003) | |
Administrative divisions | 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 | - |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 36.6% (male 10,983; female 10,208)
15-64 years: 60.3% (male 18,010; female 16,933) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 699; female 1,069) (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products | bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock | - |
Airports | 3 (2003 est.) | 1 (2002) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
Area | total: 199 sq km
land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island |
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock |
Area - comparative | slightly larger than Washington, DC | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in 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. | A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse. |
Birth rate | 24.46 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) | - |
Budget | revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)
expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY96/97) |
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Capital | Pago Pago | - |
Climate | tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation | tropical |
Coastline | 116 km | 35.2 km |
Constitution | ratified 1966, in effect 1967 | - |
Country name | conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses |
Currency | US dollar (USD) | - |
Death rate | 3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) | - |
Debt - external | NA (2002 est.) | - |
Dependency status | unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior | possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of the US) | none (possession of France) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of the US) | none (possession of France) |
Disputes - international | none | claimed by Madagascar |
Economic aid - recipient | important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994 | - |
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 most 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. 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 is a promising developing sector. | no economic activity |
Electricity - consumption | 120.9 million kWh (2001) | - |
Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2001) | - |
Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2001) | - |
Electricity - production | 130 million kWh (2001) | - |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 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 | NA |
Ethnic groups | Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5% | - |
Exchange rates | the US dollar is used | - |
Executive branch | chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003) cabinet: NA elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008) election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote: Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3% |
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Exports | NA (2001) | - |
Exports - commodities | canned tuna 93% | - |
Exports - partners | Samoa 33.3%, Japan 22.2%, Australia 11.1%, Canada 11.1%, New Zealand 11.1% (2003) | - |
Fiscal year | 1 October - 30 September | - |
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 | the flag of France is used |
GDP | purchasing power parity - $500 million (2000 est.) | - |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: NA
industry: NA services: NA |
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GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.) | - |
GDP - real growth rate | NA | - |
Geographic coordinates | 14 20 S, 170 00 W | 11 30 S, 47 20 E |
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 | the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system |
Highways | total: 350 km
paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Imports | NA (2001) | - |
Imports - commodities | materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% | - |
Imports - partners | Australia 33.3%, New Zealand 33.3%, Mauritius 9%, Japan 5.1%, South Korea 5.1%, UK 5.1% (2003) | - |
Independence | none (territory of the US) | - |
Industrial production growth rate | NA | - |
Industries | tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts | - |
Infant mortality rate | total: 9.48 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices) | NA (2003 est.) | - |
International organization participation | Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU | - |
Irrigated land | NA sq km | 0 sq km (1998 est.) |
Judicial branch | High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior) | - |
Labor force | 14,000 (1996) | - |
Labor force - by occupation | tuna canneries 34%, government 33%, other 33% (1990) | - |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15% other: 75% (2001) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (1998 est.) |
Languages | Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English
note: most people are bilingual |
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Legal system | NA | the laws of France, where applicable, apply |
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 and serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004); Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004) 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 - independents 18 note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate |
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Life expectancy at birth | total population: 75.62 years
male: 72.05 years female: 79.41 years (2004 est.) |
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Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.) |
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Location | Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand | Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar |
Map references | Oceania | Africa |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
Merchant marine | none | - |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US | defense is the responsibility of France |
National holiday | Flag Day, 17 April (1900) | - |
Nationality | noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan |
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Natural hazards | typhoons common from December to March | periodic cyclones |
Natural resources | pumice, pumicite | guano, coconuts |
Net migration rate | -20.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) | - |
Political parties and leaders | Democratic Party [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA] | - |
Political pressure groups and leaders | NA | - |
Population | 57,902 (July 2004 est.) | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2003 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA | - |
Population growth rate | 0.04% (2004 est.) | - |
Ports and harbors | Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u | none; offshore anchorage only |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) | - |
Religions | Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30% | - |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | - |
Telephone system | general assessment: NA
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) |
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Telephones - main lines in use | 15,000 (2001) | - |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 2,377 (1999) | - |
Television broadcast stations | 1 (2004) | - |
Terrain | five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island) | low and flat |
Total fertility rate | 3.41 children born/woman (2004 est.) | - |
Unemployment rate | 6% (2000) | - |
Waterways | - | none |