by Europeanexplorers 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.
Geography American Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half
way 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
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 from November to April,
dry season from 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 extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m
Natural resources:
pumice, pumicite
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 15% other: 75% (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons common from December to March
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water 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 American Samoa
Population:
57,881 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 35.7% (male 10,705/female 9,956)
15–64 years: 61.3% (male 18,351/female 17,125)
65 years and over: 3% (male 664/female 1,080) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.76 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 23.05 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
−0.11% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
23.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
3.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
−20.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.84 years
male: 72.27 years
female: 79.62 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups:
native Pacific islander 92.9%, Asian 2.9%, white 1.2%, mixed 2.8%,
other 0.2% (2000 census)
Religions:
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant
