American Samoa (Territory
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Government Information
Chief
of State: President George W. BUSH of the US (since
20 January 2001) Head of Government: Governor
Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003) Government Type: NA
Population Demographics
Population:
57,794 (July 2006 est.) Languages: Samoan 90.6% (closely
related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English
2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other
2%
note: most people are bilingual (2000 census) Religion: Christian Congregationalist
50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30% Life Expectancy: 76.05
Economic Information
Currency:
USD GDP(per capita) $5,800 (2000
est.) Overview: 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 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. 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. Exports: canned tuna 93% (2004
est.) Import: materials for canneries
56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts
6% (2004 est.)
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Geography
Information
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand Area: total: 199 sq km
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Background:
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.
Independence Day: none (territory
of the US)
Capital City: 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 districts and two islands* at the second order;
Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
