American Samoa
From Higher Intellect Documents
American Samoa Geography Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S, 170 00 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island AreaÑcomparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 116 km Maritime claims: 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) Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata 966 m Natural resources: pumice, pumicite Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 70% other: 15% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March EnvironmentÑcurrent 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 EnvironmentÑinternational agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA GeographyÑnote: 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 Population: 62,093 (July 1998 est.) 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.) Population growth rate: 2.74% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 27.31 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 4.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) 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.) Infant mortality rate: 10.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.23 years male: 70.95 years female: 79.77 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.72 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: American Samoan(s) adjective: American Samoan Ethnic groups: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5% Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant denominations and other 30% Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English note: most people are bilingual Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.) Government 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 Government type: NA National capital: Pago Pago 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 Independence: none (territory of the US) National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900) Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967 Legal system: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 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 seatsÑ20 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 RepresentativesÑlast held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); SenateÑlast held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: House of RepresentativesÑpercent of vote by partyÑNA; seats by party - NA; SenateÑpercent of vote by partyÑNA; seats by partyÑNA 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 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 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) 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 EconomyÑoverview: 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. GDP: purchasing power parityÑ$150 million (1995 est.) GDPÑreal growth rate: NA% GDPÑper capita: purchasing power parityÑ$2,600 (1995 est.) GDPÑcomposition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Inflation rateÑconsumer price index: NA % Labor force: total: 14,400 (1990) by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990) Unemployment rate: 12% (1991) Budget: revenues: $97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue) expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91) Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts Industrial production growth rate: NA% ElectricityÑcapacity: 33,000 kW (1995) ElectricityÑproduction: 105 million kWh (1995) ElectricityÑconsumption per capita: 1,830 kWh (1995) AgricultureÑproducts: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy farming Exports: total value: $318 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: canned tuna 93% partners: US 99.6% 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% DebtÑexternal: $NA Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: important financial support from the US Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 OctoberÑ30 September Communications Telephones: 9,000 (1994 est.) Telephone system: domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular phone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station international: satellite earth stationÑ1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 1 Televisions: 12,000 (1994 est.) Transportation Railways: 0 km 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 Airports: 4 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.) Military MilitaryÑnote: defense is the responsibility of the US Transnational Issues DisputesÑinternational: none