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.

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

slightly larger than Washington, DC

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

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

typhoons common from December to March

limited natural freshwater resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines

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

native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)

Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2%

Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%

54,947 (July 2012 est.)

22.69 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

4.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-6.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

PAGO PAGO (capital) 60,000 (2009)

3.1 children born/woman (2012 est.)

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

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

none (territory of the US)

Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

ratified 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967

mixed legal system of US common law and customary law

18 years of age; universal

bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)and the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms)

High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior); note - the High Court (or Supreme Court) is the highest court in America Samoa; there is no U.S. federal court there

Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]

Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)

AOSIS, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU

none (territory of the US)

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 war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa

American Samoa has 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 commerce. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector with canned tuna the primary export. The two tuna canneries account for 80% of employment. In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami devastated American Samoa and nearby Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency is overseeing a relief program of nearly $25 million. 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.

$575.3 million (2007 est.)

$510.1 million (2003 est.)

$462.2 million (2005)

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

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

$445.6 million (FY04 est.)

$308.8 million (FY04 est.)

raw materials for canneries 56%, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts

the US dollar is used

1 October - 30 September

190 million kWh (2009 est.)

176.7 million kWh (2009 est.)

60,000 kW (2009 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

5,115 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

2,697 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

688,800 Mt (2010 est.)

3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)

defense is the responsibility of the US

Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution