Discover Fascinating American Samoa Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about American Samoa.
American Samoa
Background
π Did you know? The beautiful islands of Samoa were settled as early as 1000 B.C.! That's a long time ago! π It wasn't until the 18th century that European explorers discovered these stunning islands.
In the late 19th century, there was a lot of international competition for territories, which led to the signing of an important treaty in 1899. This treaty allowed Germany and the US to divide the Samoan archipelago between them. π©πͺπ€πΊπΈ The following year, the US officially took control of its shareβ a smaller group of eastern islands known for the amazing harbor of Pago Pago. β
Year Samoa was Settled
1000 B.C.
Year European Explorers Arrived
18th century
Year of the Treaty to Divide Samoa
1899
Year US Occupation Started
1900
Exports - commodities
American Samoa exports a variety of products! π In 2022, the main commodities exported included:
- π Animal meal
- π Packaged medicine
- βοΈ Machinery
- π’οΈ Refined petroleum
- π Insulated wire
These products help boost the economy and connect American Samoa to the world! π
Exports - partners
π American Samoa's Export Partners in 2022 π
American Samoa has some interesting trading partners! In 2022, hereβs how the exports were shared among the countries:
- Australia: 33% π
- South Korea: 16% π°π·
- Taiwan: 8% πΉπΌ
- Kuwait: 8% π°πΌ
- Senegal: 5% πΈπ³
As you can see, Australia is the biggest partner, taking up a third of the pie! Let's take a closer look at this data in a yummy pie chart! π°
Largest Export Partner
Australia (33%)
Smallest Export Partner
Senegal (5%)
Total Percentage of Top 5 Partners
70%
American Samoa's Export Partners - 2022
Capital
π΄ The beautiful capital of American Samoa is Pago Pago! Known for its stunning natural beauty and vibrant culture, Pago Pago serves as the heart of this enchanting territory in the Pacific. ποΈ
Imports - commodities
π³οΈ American Samoa imports a variety of commodities including refined petroleum, fish, cars, paper containers, and wood. These items keep the economy buzzing and the people happy! Let's dive into these important imports that make life on the islands go round! πππ¦π³
Top Imports of American Samoa
Climate
π΄ Climate Overview of American Samoa π
American Samoa enjoys a tropical marine climate, which means warm and humid days all year round! The southeast trade winds help keep things nice and cool. π¬οΈ
β Rainfall: The annual rainfall is around 3,000 millimeters (that's a whopping 3 meters!). Rain is usually more frequent from November to April, during the rainy season, while the dry season stretches from May to October.
Even though it rains a lot, the temperature remains pretty steady throughout the year. So, pack your swimsuit and enjoy the warm weather! π
Annual Rainfall
3000 millimeters
Rainy Season Duration
November to April
Dry Season Duration
May to October
Executive branch
Executive Branch of American Samoa π¦πΈ
In American Samoa, the executive branch is led by some important figures who help run the government and make decisions for the territory!
β¨ Chief of State: The current chief of state is President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr., who has been in office since January 20, 2021.
ποΈ Head of Government: The head of government is Governor Lemanu Peleti MAUGA, who has taking charge since January 3, 2021.
Both of these leaders play vital roles in guiding American Samoa through various challenges and opportunities. Let's support them on their journey! π
Current President of the USA
Joseph R. BIDEN Jr.
Date President took office
January 20, 2021
Current Governor of American Samoa
Lemanu Peleti MAUGA
Date Governor took office
January 3, 2021
Legislative branch
ποΈ Legislative Branch of American Samoa ποΈ
American Samoa has a bicameral legislature, which means it has two separate chambers that work together to make laws. Hereβs a fun breakdown of its structure:
- Senate: 18 seats
- House of Representatives: 21 seats
This unique setup helps ensure that different voices and opinions are heard in the decision-making process! π³οΈ
Seats in the American Samoa Legislature
Natural resources
π Natural Resources of American Samoa π
American Samoa is rich in natural resources, primarily known for its pumice and pumicite! These natural treasures are formed from volcanic eruptions and can be used in various industries, from construction to beauty products. π Let's dive into what that means for this beautiful island!
- Pumice: A lightweight volcanic rock, pumice is often used in products such as soaps and scrubs, making your skin feel smooth and soft.
- Pumicite: Similar to pumice, it's finer and often used in filtration, cleaning, and even agriculture. π±
American Samoa's unique geological background gives it this incredible resource. Who knew there were such exciting materials hiding in the landscapes? π€©
Economic overview
American Samoa's economy π is mainly built on tourism, tuna, and government services! However, the territory has been facing some tough times lately with a sustained economic decline. The tuna canning industry, which is important for jobs and profits, is very vulnerable right now. π π
There's a large presence of the territorial government that plays a major role in the economy. π€ And good news: minimum wage increases are on the way with plans to match federal standards by 2036! πΌπΈ
Minimum wage federal standard increase year
2036
Major sectors of the economy
tourism, tuna, government services
Current economic condition
sustained economic decline
Vulnerability of tuna industry
vulnerable
Government type
β¨ American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States! π This means that while it belongs to the US, it doesn't have all the same rights as states. However, the people of American Samoa enjoy a local self-government. ποΈ Their government has a republican form, and they have separate branches for executive, legislative, and judicial functions, just like in the US! βοΈ It's a unique setup that combines local leadership with ties to the wider nation!
Government Structure
Unincorporated, unorganized Territory with local self-government
Form of Government
Republican form with separate branches
Ethnic groups
American Samoa has a wonderfully diverse population! π Hereβs how the ethnic groups break down:
- Pacific Islander: 88.7%
- Includes Samoan: 83.2%
- Tongan: 2.2%
- Other: 3.3%
- Asian: 5.8%
- Includes Filipino: 3.4%
- Other: 2.4%
- Mixed: 4.4%
- Other: 1.1%
Why is this important? Ethnicity shapes a vibrant culture and community life in American Samoa! π
Percentage of Pacific Islanders
88.7%
Percentage of Asians
5.8%
Percentage of Mixed Ethnicities
4.4%
Percentage of Other Ethnicities
1.1%
Percentage of Samoans within Pacific Islanders
83.2%
Percentage of Tongans within Pacific Islanders
2.2%
Percentage of Filipinos within Asians
3.4%
Ethnic Composition of American Samoa
Religions
In American Samoa, the majority of people identify as Christian! βͺ A whopping 98.3% of the population are Christians, making it the dominant religion in the territory. There is also a small portion of the population that falls into the 'other' category, which accounts for less than 1%. Additionally, almost another 1% of the people are unaffiliated, meaning they don't identify with any religion. This data is from the year 2020. π
Percentage of Christians
98.3%
Percentage of Other religions
<1%
Percentage of Unaffiliated individuals
<1%
Religious Distribution in American Samoa (2020)
Languages
π¦πΈ Languages of American Samoa π¦πΈ
In American Samoa, people speak a variety of languages, reflecting its unique culture and heritage. The most spoken language is Samoan, with a whopping 87.9% of the population using it at home! π π After that, thereβs English at 3.3%, followed by Tongan at 2.1%. Additionally, we have other Pacific Islander languages at 4.1%, Asian languages also at 2.1%, and a small 0.5% speak other languages. πβ¨
This blend of languages shows how diverse and vibrant American Samoa really is! ππ
Percentage of Samoan speakers
87.9%
Percentage of English speakers
3.3%
Percentage of Tongan speakers
2.1%
Percentage of Other Pacific Islander speakers
4.1%
Percentage of Asian language speakers
2.1%
Percentage of Other language speakers
0.5%
Languages Spoken in American Samoa
Imports - partners
π American Samoa imports goods from various countries! Let's take a look at where most of the imports come from based on 2022 data:
- Malaysia: 27% π₯
- Singapore: 24% π
- Fiji: 12% π
- South Korea: 9% π±
- Taiwan: 9% π₯οΈ
Isn't it interesting how different places contribute to what American Samoa gets?
π We can represent these percentages clearly with a pie chart to show how imports divide among the countries. This allows us to visualize the relationships and importance of each country in American Samoa's import strategy!
Top Import Partner
Malaysia - 27%
Second Top Import Partner
Singapore - 24%
Third Top Import Partner
Fiji - 12%
Equal Fourth Import Partners
South Korea - 9%, Taiwan - 9%
Import Partners of American Samoa (2022)
Population
π American Samoa has a total population of 43,895 people! This vibrant community is full of culture and life. From stunning beaches to rich traditions, there's so much to enjoy in this tropical paradise. π΄πΊ
Total Population
43,895
Area
π¦πΈ Did you know? The total area of American Samoa is 224 square kilometers! π This includes all land, as there are no water bodies reported within this area. π Everything you see is land, making American Samoa a splendid, compact location to explore! π
Total Area
224 sq km
Land Area
224 sq km
Water Area
0 sq km
Area Composition of American Samoa
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
π American Samoa's Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) shows us how the economy has been growing over the last few years! Let's take a closer look at the numbers:
- In 2014, the GDP was $666.9 million.
- By 2015, it grew slightly to $674.9 million. π
- In 2016, it reached $658 million.
π Isn't it interesting to see how the economy fluctuates over time? These figures help us understand the economic situation better!
Real GDP in 2014
666.9
Real GDP in 2015
674.9
Real GDP in 2016
658
Real GDP of American Samoa (PPP) Over the Years
Real GDP per capita
π° Let's dive into the Real GDP per capita for American Samoa! This number gives us an idea of how much money each individual would get if all the money in the country were shared equally. Itβs like dividing a pizza among friends! π
Hereβs how the Real GDP per capita has changed over the years:
- 2014: $11,200
- 2015: $11,300
- 2016: $11,200
As we can see, it was a bit of a rollercoaster ride π’, going up in 2015 and then back down in 2016. Let's break it down visually! π
Highest GDP per Capita
11300 USD (2015)
Lowest GDP per Capita
11200 USD (2014, 2016)
Real GDP per Capita in American Samoa (2014-2016)
Imports
π Let's take a look at the imports for American Samoa over the past few years. It's super interesting to see how things change! For 2020, imports were $686 million. In 2021, they increased to $694 million. And in 2022, they reached $677 million. It's like a little rollercoaster ride! π’
These import figures help us understand how American Samoa connects with the rest of the world. π
Imports in 2020
686
Imports in 2021
694
Imports in 2022
677
Imports of American Samoa Over Time
Exports
π Let's dive into the exports of American Samoa! In 2022, the total exports reached $409 million! This was an increase from $332 million in 2021! However, back in 2020, the exports were even higher at $427 million! π It's interesting to see how exports can change over time!
Highest Exports
$427 million
Lowest Exports
$332 million
Recent Exports (2022)
$409 million
American Samoa Exports Over Time
Population growth rate
American Samoa's population is expected to experience a decline in the coming year! π The estimated population growth rate for 2024 is -1.54%. This means that the number of people living in American Samoa is decreasing. It's important to keep an eye on how this can affect communities and resources in this lovely island territory! π΄
Population growth rate estimate for 2024
-1.54%