General information: Inhabited by 1000 BC. e., the islands of Samoa were “discovered” by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalry in the second half of the XIX century. ended in 1899 with the signing of an agreement under which the Samoa archipelago was divided between Germany and the United States. According to IELTS Test Centers, the following year, the United States officially occupied its part of the archipelago – the smaller eastern group of islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago. Geography
Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between the Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand.
Geographic coordinates: 14° 20′ S latitude, 170° 00’W E.
Reference map: Oceania.
Area: total: 199 km2; land surface area: 199 km2; water surface area: 0 km2; note: includes Rose Atoll and Swains Island.
Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC.
Land borders: 0 km.
Coastline: 116 km.
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles; territorial waters: 12 nautical miles.
Climate: tropical seaside, moderated by southeast trade winds; average annual rainfall is about 3 m; the rainy season lasts from November to April, from May to October there is dry weather; seasonal temperature difference is negligible.
Terrain: five islands of volcanic origin with rocky mountains and narrow coastal plains and two coral atolls (Rose Atoll, Swains Island).
Maximum and minimum heights: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m; highest point: Mount Lata 966 m.
Natural resources: pumice stone, pumice stone.
Land use: arable land: 5%; cultivated land: 10%; pasture: 0%; forests and plantations: 70%; others: 15% (1993 est.).
Irrigated land: no data.
Natural Hazards: From December to March there are frequent typhoons.
Current environmental issues: limited natural fresh water resources; over the past few years, the government water department has allocated significant funds to improve the drainage and water supply system.
International Environmental Agreements:
Geography Note: Pago Pago has one of the finest natural deep water harbors in the South Pacific; its very shape shelters the water area from sea storms, and the mountains towering around the circumference protect from strong winds; the islands occupy a strategic position in the South Pacific.
Population
Population: 67,084 (July 2001 est.).
Age structure: under 14: 38.44% (male 13,278; female 12,512); 15 to 64 years old: 56.57% (male 18,784; female 19,163); over 65: 4.99% (male 1,779; female 1,568) (2001 est.).
Population growth: 2.42% (2001 est.).
Birth rate: 24.88 newborns / 1000 people. (2001 est.).
Mortality: 4.31 deaths / 1000 people. (2001 est.).
Migration: 3.58 people / 1000 people (2001 est.).
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male/female; under 15: 1.06 male/female; from 15 to 64 years old: 0.98 male/female; over 65: 1.13 male/female; for the general population: 1.02 male/female (2001 est.);
Infant mortality: 10.36 deaths/1000 live births (2001 est.).
Life expectancy: for the general population: 75.32 years; men: 70.89 years; women: 80.02 years (2001 est.);
General birth rate: 3.5 children/wives. (2001 est.).
Proportion of the adult population infected with HIV: no data available.
Number of people infected with HIV: no data.
Mortality due to AIDS: no data available.
Nationality: noun: American (Eastern) Samoan; adjective: Eastern Samoan.
Ethnic groups: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, white 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%.
Faithful: Congregationalists 50%, Catholics 20%, Protestants and others 30%.
Languages): Samoan (related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English; note: the majority of the population speaks both languages.
Literacy: definition: persons aged 15 and over who can read and write; for the general population: 97%; men: 98%; women: 97% (1980 est.). State Name:
Politics
Common long form: Territory of American (Eastern) Samoa;
Common short form: American (Eastern) Samoa; abbreviation: AS. Dependency Status: Non-U.S. Territory;
State structure: no data.
Capital: Pago Pago.
Administrative divisions: none (US territory); there are no first-order administrative divisions according to the classification adopted by the US government, but there are administrative divisions of the second order: 3 districts and two islands*: Rose Atoll* East, West, Manua, Swains Island*.
Independence: none (U.S. territory).
National holiday: Flag Day, April 17 (1900).
Constitution: ratified in 1966, entered into force in 1967.
Legal system: unknown.
Suffrage: from 18 years old; universal.
chief of state: US President George W. BUSH (since January 20, 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since January 20, 2001);
head of government: Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since January 3, 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since January 3, 1997);
Government: no data; elections: President and Vice President of the United States are elected on the same list for a four-year term; the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same list for a four-year term by popular vote; elections last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held in November 2004); election results: Taueze P. SUNIA re-elected governor; percent of the vote – Taueze P. SUNIA (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Lealaifuaneva Peter REID (independent candidate) 47.8%.
Legislature: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono), consisting of the House of Representatives (21 seats, 20 members of the house are elected by popular vote, and 1 is appointed without election from Swains Island; the composition of the house is renewed every two years) and the Senate (18 seats; members of the house are elected from local tribal chiefs for a four-year term); elections: for House of Representatives last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held November 2002); to the Senate was last held on 7 November 2000 (next to be held in November 2004); election results: no data; note – all candidates are independent; note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held in November 2002); result — Eni FALEOMAVAEGA (Eni FH
Judiciary: High Court (Chief Justice and his deputies appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior).
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (leader – no data); Republican Party (leader – no data).
Political influence groups and their leaders:
Participation in international organizations: ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC.
Diplomatic representation in the USA: none (US territory).
U.S. Diplomatic Mission: None (U.S. Territory).
Flag Description: blue, with a white triangle with red edges, the base of which lies on the outside, and the apex faces the pole; a brown and white American eagle flying in the direction of the pole carries two traditional symbols of Samoan authority: the staff and the war club.
Economics
Economy Overview: Traditional Polynesian economy where over 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is inextricably linked with the United States, with which American Samoa conducts most of its foreign trade. Fishing and processing of tuna is the backbone of the private sector, and canned tuna is the main export. The transfers provided by the US government are essential to the economic health of American Samoa. The government’s efforts to develop the economy comprehensively have been hampered by Samoa’s isolated geography, limited transportation, and devastating hurricanes. Tourism development is being delayed due to the current financial difficulties in East Asia.
GDP: at purchasing power parity – $ 500 million (2000 est.).
Real GDP growth rate: no data available.
GDP per capita: Purchasing Power Parity $8,000 (2000 est.).
Composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: no data; industry: no data; service sector: no data.
Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available.
Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; 10% of the wealthiest families: no data.
Inflation rate at consumer prices: no data
Labor force: 14,000 people. (1996).
Employment structure: civil service 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other sectors 33% (1990).
Unemployment rate: 16% (1993).
Budget: Revenues: $121 million (37% local revenues and 63% US subsidies); expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures – NA (FY96-97).
Economic sectors: tuna cannery (highly dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts.
Growth in industrial production: no data available.
Electricity generation: 130 million kWh (1999).
Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 100%; hydropower: 0%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999).
Electricity consumption: 120.9 million kWh (1999).
Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999).
Electricity import: 0 kWh (1999).
Agricultural products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papaya fruits; dairy products, livestock.
Export: $500 million (1998).
Exports: canned tuna 93%.
Export partners: USA 99.6%.
Import: $471 million (1996)
Import items: semi-finished products for canning factories 56%, food products 8%, oil products 7%, equipment and spare parts 6%.
Import partners: USA 62%, Japan 9%, New Zealand 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%.
External debt: no data. Recipient of economic assistance: no data; note: The US provides significant financial support, over $40 million in 1994.
Economic aid donor:
Currency: US dollar.
Currency code: USD.
Exchange rate: US dollar is used.
Fiscal year: October 1-September 30.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 13,000 (1997).
Mobile cellular telephones: 2,550 (1997).
Telephone system: internal: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular communication; internal satellite system with 1 Komsat ground station; international: satellite earth station – 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean).
Broadcast stations: AM -1, FM -1, shortwave -0 (1998).
Radio receivers: 57,000 (1997).
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997).
TVs: 14,000 (1997).
Internet country code: as
Internet service providers: 1 (2000).
Number of users: no data.
Transport
Transport Railways: 0 km.
Motorways: total: 350 km; coated: 150 km; unpaved: 200 km.
Ports and harbours: Auasi, Aunuu (new built), Ofu, Pago Pago, Tau, Faleosao.
Merchant Marine: None (2000 est.).
Airports: 4 (2000 est.).
Airports with paved runways: total: 2; from 2438 to 3047 m:1; less than 914 m: 1 (2000 est.).
Airports with unpaved runways: total: 2; less than 914 m: 2 (2000 est.).
