American Samoa - Economic Indicators

Economic Overview

American Samoa s 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 processing are the backbone of the private sector with processed fish products as the primary exports. The fish processing business accounted for 15.5% of employment in 2015. 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...

Continue reading View Factbook for American Samoa

GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Real Private Consumption 2022 498 541 Mil. Ch. 2012 USD Annual
Private Consumption 2022 621 602 Mil. USD Annual
Government Consumption 2022 495 429 Mil. USD Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2022 645 634 Mil. Ch. 2012 USD Annual
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 871 750 Mil. USD Annual
Real Government Consumption 2022 546 630 Mil. Ch. 2012 USD Annual
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Exports of Goods and Services 2022 409 332 Mil. USD Annual
Real Net Exports 2022 -249 -348 Mil. Ch. 2012 USD Annual
Net Exports 2022 -268 -362 Mil. USD Annual
Real Exports of Goods and Services 2022 370 359 Mil. Ch. 2012 USD Annual
Imports of Goods and Services 2022 677 694 Mil. USD Annual
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Real Change in Inventories 2022 -18 2 Mil. Ch. 2012 USD Annual
Change in Inventories 2022 -29 3 Mil. USD Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Birth Rate 2014 17.5 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2014 4.2 # per Ths. pop. Annual

Factbook

Background

Background:
Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was not reached by European explorers until 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.

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: 199 sq km
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
country comparison to the world: 216
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
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 Island, Swains Island)
Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Natural resources:
pumice, pumicite
Land use:
agricultural land: 24.5%
arable land 61.22%; permanent crops 38.78%; permanent pasture 0%
forest: 87.9%
other: 0% (2014 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (2012)
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
Environment - current issues:
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
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 & Society

Population:
51,504 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Pacific Islander 92.6% (includes Samoan 88.9%, Tongan 2.9%, other .8%), Asian 3.6% (includes Filipino 2.2%, other 1.4%), mixed 2.7%, other 1.2% (2010 est.)
Languages:
Samoan 88.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 3.9%, Tongan 2.7%, other Pacific islander 3%, other 1.8%
note: most people are bilingual (2010 est.)
Religions:
Christian 98.3%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.7% (2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.28% (male 8,017/female 7,580)
15-24 years: 18.79% (male 4,846/female 4,831)
25-54 years: 36.38% (male 9,274/female 9,463)
55-64 years: 8.58% (male 2,186/female 2,232)
65 years and over: 5.97% (male 1,452/female 1,623) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 25.5 years
male: 25.1 years
female: 26 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Population growth rate:
-1.3% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 232
Birth rate:
19.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Death rate:
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Net migration rate:
-26.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Urbanization:
urban population: 87.1% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 0.63% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
PAGO PAGO (capital) 48,000 (2014)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.4 years
male: 71.3 years
female: 75.6 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Total fertility rate:
2.68 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 62.5% of population
rural: 62.5% of population
total: 62.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 37.5% of population
rural: 37.5% of population
total: 37.5% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Education expenditures:
NA

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
etymology: the name Samoa is composed of two parts, "sa" meaning "sacred" and "moa" meaning "center," so the name can mean Holy Center; alternatively, it can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology
Dependency status:
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:
presidential democracy; a self-governing territory of the US
Capital:
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution:
history: adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967
amendments: proposed by either house of the Legislative Assembly; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by the membership of each house, approval in a referendum, and approval by the US Secretary of the Interior; amended 1971,1977, 1979
Legal system:
mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
Citizenship:
see United States
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)
head of government: Governor Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (since 3 January 2013)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature
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 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)
election results: Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA reelected governor in first round; percent of vote - Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (independent) 60.2%, Faoa Aitofele SUNIA (Democratic Party) 35.8%, Tuika TUIKA (independent) 4%
Legislative branch:
description: bicameral Legislature or Fono consists of the Senate (18 seats; members indirectly selected by regional governing councils to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members directly elected by simple majority vote and 1 decided by public meeting on Swains Island; members serve 2-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2018)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 18; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20
note: American Samoa elects 1 member by simple majority 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; election of delegate last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2018)
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); note - American Samoa has no US federal courts
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
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Fagafaga Daniel LANGKILDE]
Republican Party [Utu Abe MALAE, chairman]
International organization participation:
AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
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 2 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 US and American Samoa
National symbol(s):
a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk; representing wisdom) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff; representing 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

Economy - overview:
American Samoa s 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 processing are the backbone of the private sector with processed fish products as the primary exports. The fish processing business accounted for 15.5% of employment in 2015.
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 oversaw 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 has some potential as a source of income and jobs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$711 million (2013 est.)
$718 million (2012 est.)
$647 million (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2016 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 207
GDP (official exchange rate):
$748.6 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.4% (2013 est.)
-2.7% (2012 est.)
0.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,000 (2013 est.)
$13,100 (2012 est.)
$11,700 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 54.6%
government consumption: 52.8%
investment if fixed capital: 2.7%
investment in inventories: 2.3%
exports of goods and services: 54.4%
imports of goods and services: -66.8% (2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 27.4%
industry: 12.4%
services: 60.2% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Industries:
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Labor force:
16,090 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA
industry: 13.1%
services: 86.9% (2013 est.)
Unemployment rate:
29.8% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $241.2 million
expenditures: $243.7 million (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
32.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2013 est.)
3.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Exports:
$459 million (2013 est.)
$489 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna 93%
Exports - partners:
Australia 21.6%, Ghana 16.1%, Netherlands 11.5%, Burma 8.1%, South Korea 7.9%, Colombia 4.7%, Indonesia 4.3% (2016)
Imports:
$564 million (2013 est.)
$508 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Imports - commodities:
raw materials for canneries, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts
Imports - partners:
Singapore 22.6%, NZ 19.1%, Samoa 8.7%, Malaysia 8.2%, Fiji 7.6%, South Korea 7.4%, Australia 4.6% (2016)
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Energy

Electricity access:
population without electricity: 22,219
electrification - total population: 59%
electrification - urban areas: 60%
electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
Electricity - production:
163 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - consumption:
151.6 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
41,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
2,375 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0.09 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Refined petroleum products - imports:
2,346 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
600,000 Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 10,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Telephone system:
general assessment: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services
domestic: domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations (2009)
Internet country code:
.as
Internet users:
total: 17,000
percent of population: 31.3% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Transportation

Airports:
3 (2016)
country comparison to the world: 192
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2017)
Roadways:
total: 241 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 208
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Pago Pago

Military & Security

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution

Economic Indicators for American Samoa including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the American Samoa economy.