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
@American Samoa, People
Population:
55,223 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.86% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
36.63 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Total population:
72.91 years
male:
71.03 years
female:
74.85 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.36 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
American Samoan(s)
adjective:
American Samoan
Ethnic divisions:
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; most people are bilingual
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
97%
Labor force:
14,400 (1990)
by occupation:
government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
@American Samoa, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form:
American Samoa
Abbreviation:
AS
Digraph:
AQ
Type:
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by
the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International
Affairs
Capital:
Pago Pago
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
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 William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice
President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:
Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993); Lieutenant Governor
Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993); election last held 3 November
1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - A. P. LUTALI
(Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
House of Representatives:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1994); results - representatives popularly elected from 17 house
districts; seats - (21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate
from Swains Island)
Senate:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1996); results - senators elected by village chiefs from 12 senate
districts; seats - (18 total) number of seats by party NA
US House of Representatives:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1994); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
NA
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
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 staff and a war club
@American Samoa, Economy
Overview:
Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American
Samoa conducts 80%-90% 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.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $128 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$2,600 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (1990)