Territory of American Samoa

NAME OF THE COUNTRY:

• Conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
• Conventional short form:American Samoa
• Abbreviation: AS

HISTORY of AMERICAN SAMOA:

• Samoan Islands are said to have been inhabited as early as 1000 BC.
• Samoa was not reached by European explorers until the eighteenth century.
• Most Pacific Islands including American Samoa were once under Manua’s occupation.
• The islands were accidently discovered by the Dutch in the eighteenth century.
• In 1830, western missionaries came to the region to preach Christianity.
• The Samoan Congregationalist Church became the first independent indigenous church of the South Pacific.
• In March 1889, a German naval force invaded Samoa.
• In 1899, The Treaty of Berlin divided the Samoan archipelago between the US and Germany.
• Since 1962, the western islands have been an independent nation.
• The eastern portion has been occupied by the United States.

DEMOGRAPHICS of AMERICAN SAMOA:

• Majority of the inhabitants are Pacific Islanders.
• Minority ethnic groups include Asian, White and mixed races.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS in AMERICAN SAMOA:

• American Samoa is run by a presidential representative democratic dependent government.
• The Governor is the head of the government and a pluriform multi-party system.
• American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States.
• Administration is handlied by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Its constitution was ratified in 1966 and came into effect in 1967.
• Executive power is exercised by the government.
• Legislative power lies with the two chambers of the legislature.
• The American political parties (Republican and Democratic) operate in American Samoa.
• The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
• The "fa'amatai" and the "fa'asamoa", is the traditional village council with a chief.
• The Fa'amatai and the Fono exist at all levels of the Samoan body politics.
• The majority of lands in American Samoa and independent Samoa are communal.
• Residents of American Samoa are American nationals but not US citizens.
• Samoans are entitled to elect one non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives.
• American Samoa is administratively divided into three districts and two "unorganized" atolls.
• The districts and unorganized atolls are subdivided into 74 villages.
• Fagatogo is listed in the Constitution of American Samoa as the official seat of government.

CULTURE in AMERICAN SAMOA:

• American Samoa shares the same culture as Independent Samoa.
• Majority of the people are Christian Congregationalist, Roman Catholic, and Protestant.
• The chief languages in use are Samoan and English.
• Few people speak Tongan and Pacific Islander.
• Most people are bilingual.
• The people have managed to preserve their rich Polynesian traditions and heritage.
• Families and communities are large and closely integrated.
• The power of authority and decision making lies with the elder of the family.
• Coconut, seafood, seaweed and fruits form the major part of Samoan cuisine.
• People are adept at handicrafts like mats, ornaments and jewelry.
• Rugby Union, Football and Samoan Cricket are the most popular sports played in the Polynesian Islands.
• Wrestling is also a popular recreational activity and some have seen success in the competitive wrestling arena in America.
• Music and film are also prevalent in the American Samoan culture.

ECONOMY of AMERICAN SAMOA:

• Employment opportunities comprise of public sector, private sector and tuna canneries.
• Majority of the public sector employees’ work for the American Samoa Government.
• The two tuna canneries (StarKist and Samoa Packing) export several hundred million dollars worth of canned tuna to the United States.
• American Samoa has a limited economy.
• In 2007, the Fair Minimum Wage Act increased the minimum per-hour wages by $0.50.

INFRASTRUCTURE of AMERICAN SAMOA:

• Freshwater supplies are limited in American Samoa.
• The government has made attempts in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines.
• Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean.
• American Samoa is served by one major airline and two commuter airlines.
• There are two national channels and one daily newspaper in print.
• Telephone (including cellular phone service) and internet service is readily available.

EDUCATION in AMERICAN SAMOA:

• 97% of the total population is literate.
• Male: 98%
• Female: 97%

NEIGHBOR COUNTRIES of AMERICAN SAMOA:

• American Samoa is a chain of Polynesian islands.

GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS of AMERICAN SAMOA:

• American Samoa is part of the Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
• Its geographical coordinates are 14 20 S, 170 00 W.
• The islands span over an area of 199 sq km.
• The coastline is 116 km long.
• The islands enjoy a tropical marine climate.
• The climate is moderated by southeast trade winds.
• Annual rainfall averages about 3 m.
• The country has five volcanic islands and limited coastal plains.
• Two coral atolls are present on Rose Island and Swains Island.
• Lata Mountain is the highest mountain standing at 964 m.
• Only 10% of the land area is arable.
• Typhoons are common from December to March.

FREEDOM for AMERICAN SAMOA:

• The American Samoa is presently occupied by the United States.

EMINENT PERSONALITIES of AMERICAN SAMOA:

• Jane Campion (Film –maker)
• Lucy Lawless (Actor)
• Margaret Mead (anthropologist and author)

CAPITAL CITY of AMERICAN SAMOA:

• Pago is the capital of American Samoa.
• The seat of government is located at Fagatogo.

CURRENCY in AMERICAN SAMOA:

• The US Dollar is the official currency of American Samoa.

AMERICAN SAMOA FAMOUS FOR:

• The islands are popular among tourists for coral reefs and beautiful beaches.
• The city of Pago Pago has a magnificent harbor ringed by densely forested mountains.
• American Samoans proudly retain their cultural heritage.
• Mt. Alava is a coastal volcanic mountain which provides stunning scenic views.
• Jean P. Haydon Museum of American Samoa is a national historic building that formerly housed the United States Navy Commissary during World War II.
• American Samoa also has a newly developed National Park.

TOTAL POPULATION in AMERICAN SAMOA:

• According to a 2008 census, the total population was estimated to be 57,496.
• The annual growth rate was calculated to be -0.322%.
• The birth rate is 21.24 births/1,000 populations (2008 EST.)
• The death rate is 3.24 deaths/1,000 populations (2008 EST.)

PREVIOUS RECORDS AND MEDALS WON by AMERICAN SAMOA:

• American Samoa has qualified for athletics and swimming for the Beijing Olympics 2008.
• In 2000, American Samoa competed in athletics and archery events.
• The country has not won any medals till date.