American Samoa

Tutuila — the largest island in American Samoa — was settled by 1000 B.C., and the island served as a refuge for exiled chiefs and defeated warriors from the other Samoan islands. The Manu’a Islands, which are also now part of American Samoa, developed a traditional chiefdom that maintained autonomy by controlling oceanic trade. In 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob ROGGEVEEN was the first European to sail through the Manu’a Islands, and he was followed by French explorer Louis Antoine DE BOUGAINVILLE in 1768. Whalers and missionaries arrived in American Samoa in the 1830s, but American and European traders tended to favor the port in Apia — now in independent Samoa — over the smaller and less-developed Pago Pago on Tutuila. In the mid-1800s, a dispute arose in Samoa over control of the Samoan archipelago, with different chiefs gaining support from Germany, the UK, and the US. In 1872, the high chief of Tutuila offered the US exclusive rights to Pago Pago in return for US protection, but the US rejected this offer. As fighting resumed, the US agreed to the chief’s request in 1878 and set up a coaling station at Pago Pago. In 1899, with continued disputes over succession, Germany and the US agreed to divide the Samoan islands, while the UK withdrew its claims in exchange for parts of the Solomon Islands. Local chiefs on Tutuila formally ceded their land to the US in 1900, followed by the chief of Manu’a in 1904. The territory was officially named “American Samoa” in 1911.

The US administered the territory through the Department of the Navy. In 1949, there was an attempt to organize the territory, granting it formal self-government, but local chiefs helped defeat the measure in the US Congress. Administration was transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1951, and in 1967, American Samoa adopted a constitution that provides significant protections for traditional Samoan land-tenure rules, language, and culture. In 1977, after four attempts, voters approved a measure to directly elect their governor. Nevertheless, American Samoa officially remains an unorganized territory, and people born in American Samoa are US nationals rather than US citizens.

Geography

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

14 20 S, 170 00 W

Map references

Oceania

Area

total : 224 sq km

land: 224 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes Rose Atoll and Swains Island

comparison ranking: total 216

Area – comparative

slightly larger than Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

116 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Atoll, Swains Island)

Elevation

highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

pumice, pumicite

Land use

agricultural land: 14.5% (2022 est.)

arable land: 4.9% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 9.7% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest: 85.4% (2022 est.)

other: 0.2% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Natural hazards

cyclones common from December to March

volcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century

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

People and Society

Population

total: 43,895 (2024 est.)

male: 21,804

female: 22,091

comparison rankings: total 211; female 211; male 211

Nationality

noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)

adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic groups

Pacific Islander 88.7% (includes Samoan 83.2%, Tongan 2.2%, other 3.3%), Asian 5.8% (includes Filipino 3.4%, other 2.4%), mixed 4.4%, other 1.1% (2020 est.)

note: data represent population by ethnic origin or race

Languages

Samoan 87.9% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 3.3%, Tongan 2.1%, other Pacific Islander 4.1%, Asian languages 2.1%, other 0.5% (2020 est.)

note: most people are bilingual

Religions

Christian 98.3%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.3% (male 5,738/female 5,387)

15-64 years: 66% (male 14,291/female 14,679)

65 years and over: 8.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,775/female 2,025)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 13.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 7.6 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 30 years (2024 est.)

male: 29.4 years

female: 30.6 years

comparison ranking: total 141

Population growth rate

-1.54% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 235

Birth rate

15.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 102

Death rate

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 145

Net migration rate

-24.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 229

Urbanization

urban population: 87.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas – population

49,000 PAGO PAGO (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 136

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 73.4 years

female: 78.5 years

comparison ranking: total population 122

Total fertility rate

2.06 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 97

Gross reproduction rate

1 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 1% of population (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.5% (2023 est.)

Environment

Environment – current issues

limited supply of drinking water; pollution; waste disposal; coastal and stream alteration; soil erosion

Climate

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

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 87.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 18,989 tons (2016 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: American Samoa

conventional short form: American Samoa

former: Eastern Samoa

abbreviation: AS

etymology: the name’s meaning is disputed; according to one theory, sa means “sacred” and moa means “center,” so the name can mean “Holy Center”; alternatively, some assert that the name can mean “place of the sacred moa bird” of Polynesian mythology; however, the name may pre-date the Polynesian era (before 1000 B.C.), with sa’a meaning “tribe or people” and moa meaning “deep sea,” or “people of the deep sea”

Government type

unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Dependency status

unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Capital

name: Pago Pago

geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W

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

note: pronounced PAHN-go PAHN-go

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts and 2 islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu’a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western

Legal system

mixed legal system of US common law and customary law

Constitution

history: adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967

amendment process: proposed by either house of the Legislative Assembly; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by the membership of each house, approval by simple majority vote in a referendum, approval by the US Secretary of the Interior, and only by an act of the US Congress

Citizenship

see United States
Note: in accordance with US Code Title 8, Section 1408, persons born in American Samoa are US nationals but not US citizens

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

head of government: Governor Nikolao PULA (since 3 January 2025)

cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature or Fono

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of ‘electors’ chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); 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 directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 November 2024 (next to be held in November 2028)

election results:
Lemanu Peleti MAUGA elected governor in first round; percent of vote – Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (independent) 60.3%, Gaoteote Palaie TOFAU (independent) 21.9%, I’aulualo Fa’afetai TALIA (independent) 12.3%

Legislative branch

note: American Samoa elects 1 member by simple majority popular vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote

Judicial branch

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)

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

note: American Samoa has no US federal courts

Political parties

Democratic Party
Republican Party

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (territory of the US)

International organization participation

AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC

Independence

none (territory of the US)

National holiday

Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Flag description

a large white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side and is charged with an eagle, all on a blue field; the red, white, and blue colors are traditionally used by both the United States and Samoa; the brown and white American bald eagle carries two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a fa’alaufa’i (upper), and a coconut-fiber fly whisk known as a fue (lower); the combination of symbols reflects the US Great Seal and the relationship between the US and American Samoa

National symbol(s)

a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk that represents wisdom) crossed with a to’oto’o (staff that represents authority)

National colors

red, white, blue

National anthem

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)

Economy

Economic overview

tourism, tuna, and government services-based territorial economy; sustained economic decline; vulnerable tuna canning industry; large territorial government presence; minimum wage increases to rise to federal standards by 2036

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$658 million (2016 est.)
$674.9 million (2015 est.)
$666.9 billion (2014 est.)

note: data are in 2016 dollars

comparison ranking: 212

Real GDP growth rate

1.74% (2022 est.)
-0.78% (2021 est.)
4.41% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 149

Real GDP per capita

$11,200 (2016 est.)
$11,300 (2015 est.)
$11,200 (2014 est.)

comparison ranking: 142

GDP (official exchange rate)

$871 million (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 71.3% (2022 est.)

government consumption: 49.7% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 7.3% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories: 5.1% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services: 47% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services: -77.7% (2022 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock

Industries

tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts

Budget

revenues: $249 million (2016 est.)

expenditures: $262.5 million (2016 est.)

Public debt

12.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 196

Taxes and other revenues

37.8% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 13

Exports

$409 million (2022 est.)
$332 million (2021 est.)
$427 million (2020 est.)

note: GDP expenditure basis – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 194

Exports – partners

Australia 31%, UK 18%, Tanzania 9%, UAE 7%, Senegal 6% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

animal meal, aluminum, refined petroleum, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$677 million (2022 est.)
$694 million (2021 est.)
$686 million (2020 est.)

note: GDP expenditure basis – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 198

Imports – partners

Singapore 28%, NZ 15%, Fiji 14%, Taiwan 11%, Malaysia 11% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

refined petroleum, fish, paper containers, wood, construction vehicles (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Energy

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 50,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 157.697 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 13.975 million kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 21; consumption 192; installed generating capacity 196

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 97.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

389,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 389,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 192

Energy consumption per capita

89.105 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: 59

Transportation

Airports

3 (2025)

comparison ranking: 191

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 1

very small: 0

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Pago Pago Harbor