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England Description American Samoa
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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.
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Location
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Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
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Geographic Coordinates
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14 20 S, 170 00 W
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Area - comparative
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slightly larger than Washington, DC
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Coast line
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0 km
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Climate
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116 km
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Terrain American Samoa
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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
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Natural Resources American Samoa
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five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
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Irrigated land
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pumice, pumicite
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Total Renewable Water Resources
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NA
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Natural Hazards
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typhoons common from December to March
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Environment Currentissues
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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
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Geography Note
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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
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Population American Samoa
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66,432 (July 2010 est.)
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Population growth rate
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1.212% (2010 est.)
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Birth Rate
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23.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Death Rate
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4.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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Netmigration Rate
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-6.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Total Fertility Rate
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3.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate
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NA
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Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids
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NA
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Hiv/Aids Deaths
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native Pacific islander 91.6%, Asian 2.8%, white 1.1%, mixed 4.2%, other 0.3% (2000 census)
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Religions
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Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
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Languages
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Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2%
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Education Expenditures
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NA
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Government Type
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unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
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Administrative Divisions
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NA
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Independence
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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
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National Holiday
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none (territory of the US)
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Constitution
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Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
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Legal System
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ratified on 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967
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Suffrage
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NA
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Legislative Branch
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18 years of age; universal
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Political Partie Sand Leaders
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bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)and the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms)
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Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders
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Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
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International Organization Participation
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Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
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Flag Description
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Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
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Economy Overview
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none (territory of the US)
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GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
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none (territory of the US)
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GDP (Official Exchange Rate)
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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 two 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 United States and American Samoa
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GDP Real Growth Rate
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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 commerce. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. The two tuna canneries account for 80% of employment. 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 is overseeing 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 is a promising developing sector.
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GDP Per Capita (PPP)
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$575.3 million (2007 est.)
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Labor Force
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$462.2 million (2005)
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Unemployment Rate
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3% (2003)
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Population Below Poverty Line
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$8,000 (2007 est.)
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Distribution Of Family Income
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17,630 (2005)
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Unvestment Gross Fixed
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29.8% (2005)
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Inflation Rrate
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NA%
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Central Bank Discount Rate
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NA%
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Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
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bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
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Stock Of Money
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tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
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Stock Of Quasi Money
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NA%
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Stock Of Domestic Credit
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185 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
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172.1 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - Products
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Industries
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Industrial Production Growth Rate
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Electricity Production
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4,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Electricity Consumption
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0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Electricity Exports
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4,140 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Electricity Imports
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0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Oil Production
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Consumption
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Exports
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Imports
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Proved Reserves
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0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Production
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$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
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Natural Gas Consumption
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canned tuna 93%
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Natural Gas Exports
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$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
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Natural Gas Imports
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raw materials for canneries 56%, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts
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Natural Gas Proved Reserves
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$NA
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Current Account Balance
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the US dollar is used
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Exports
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10,400 (2008)
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Exports Commodities
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2,200 (2004)
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Exports Partners
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AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
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Imports
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1 (2006)
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Imports Commodities
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.as
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Imports Partners
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1,606 (2009)
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Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold
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NA
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Debt - External
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3 (2009)
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Radio Broadcast Stations
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defense is the responsibility of the US
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Television Broadcast Stations
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Tokelau periodically asserts claims to American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega), such as in its 2006 draft independence constitution
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Internet Country Code
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Airports
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Military Service Age and Obligation
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