American Samoa Overview
- Overview - Customs and Culture - Diet and Recipes - Language - Religion - Events and Holidays - Interesting Facts - Animal Species
People Government - Politics Geography Economy News - Weather History National Symbols Photos Videos Travel and Tourism Link-to-CountryReports Sources   United States Edition Video Library

Where is American Samoa located?

What countries border American Samoa?

American Samoa Weather

What is the current weather in American Samoa?


American Samoa Facts and Culture

What is American Samoa famous for?

  • Cultural Attributes: A very basic ingredient in Samoa life is the aiga (the family). At the head of each aiga is the... More
  • Family: The aiga is headed by a matai and consists of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption More
  • Personal Apperance: The traditional lavalava (a straight, one-piece wraparound skirt) is worn by both men and women. In business and formal settings,... More
  • Recreation: Recreation in American Samoa encompasses a mix of traditional activities, outdoor pursuits, and modern forms of entertainment. The people of... More
  • Diet: The traditional diet of American Samoa is based on locally available ingredients, including a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood,... More
  • Food and Recipes: Traditional Samoan foods included taro root, yams, bananas, coconuts, breadfruit, fish, turtle, and chicken. Even though pigs are raised, pork... More
  • Visiting: The local culture emphasizes respect, family values, and communal harmony. Here are some customs and practices associated with visiting in... More
  • Dating: The dating scene in American Samoa tends to reflect a more conservative approach compared to Western cultures. Here are some... More

American Samoa Facts

What is the capital of American Samoa?

Capital Pago Pago (pronounced pahn-go pahn-go)
Government Type unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Currency US Dollar (USD)
Total Area 77 Square Miles
199 Square Kilometers
Location Oceania, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Language Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English

Note: Most people are bilingual
GDP - real growth rate -2.4%
GDP - per capita (PPP) $13,000.00 (USD)

American Samoa Demographics

What is the population of American Samoa?

Ethnic Groups Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Nationality Noun American Samoan(s)
Population 49,437
Population Growth Rate -0.4%
Population in Major Urban Areas PAGO PAGO (capital) 64,000
Urban Population 93.200000

American Samoa Government

What type of government does American Samoa have?

Executive Branch chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)

head of government: Governor Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (since 3 January 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature or Fono

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 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)

election results:

Lemanu Peleti MAUGA elected governor in first round; percent of vote - Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (independent) 60.3%, Gaoteote Palaie TOFAU (independent) 21.9%, I'aulualo Fa'afetai TALIA (independent) 12.3%
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship see United States

Note: in accordance with US Code Title 8, Section 1408, persons born in American Samoa are US nationals but not US citizens
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 by simple majority vote in a referendum, approval by the US Secretary of the Interior, and only by an act of the US Congress; amended several times, last in 2021
Independence none (territory of the US)

American Samoa Video

YouTube: TrekkingThePlanet American Samoa

CountryReports YouTube Channel:

Join CountryReports YouTube Channel (Click Here)

American Samoa Geography

What environmental issues does American Samoa have?

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
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
Terrain Five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)

American Samoa Economy

How big is the American Samoa economy?

Economic Overview American Samoa is 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.
Industries Tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Currency Name and Code US Dollar (USD)
Export Partners United States 100%

American Samoa News and Current Events

What current events are happening in American Samoa?
Source: Google News

World Regions
Africa Asia Central America Europe Middle East North America Oceania South America The Caribbean
Most Popular
United States of America China France Italy Canada Spain India Brazil Mexico
All Countries
Afghanistan Akrotiri Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dhekelia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Svalbard Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States (US) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara World Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe