American Samoa

Maritime boundaries: with the Independent State of Samoa in the west, the kingdom of Tonga in the southwest, the territories of New Zealand - Tokelau in the north, Cook Islands in the east, Niue in the south. The land area is 199 km². The population of 55 519 people. (2010) ^[3] .

The capital - Pago Pago (about 15 thousand inhabitants, 2001), is located on the largest island - Tutuila , administratively subdivided into western and eastern (with the island of Aunuu ) districts. The third district is the group of the islands of Manua ( Tau , Olosega and Ofu ). Rose Island (uninhabited) and Swains Island (private ownership) stand out in particular. The official languages are English and Samoan . Official holidays - April 17, Flag Day (the first raising of the US flag on the islands) and traditional US holidays. The monetary unit is the US dollar .

For the first time the islands were settled around 1000 BC. Oe., presumably during the migration from Southeast Asia , the next wave of immigrants ousted the previous inhabitants, who settled on the islands east of Samoa. Apparently associated with this are the Samoan legends about the islands as the cradle of Polynesians and the special role of the island empire of Manua in Polynesia before the arrival of the Europeans .

In 1722, the Samoan Archipelago was discovered by the Dutchman Jacob Roggeven . In 1830, British missionaries settled on the islands. In 1878, the United States entered into an agreement with the Kingdom of Samoa on trade privileges and the right to use one of the most convenient in the South Pacific Pago Pago Bay as a parking lot for the fleet. In 1899, during the conflict between the United States, Germany and Britain, Samoa was divided into western and eastern parts, respectively the German and American interests.

In 1900, the islands of Tutuila and Aunuu moved to the USA, in 1904 - the group of Manua . In 1925, Swains Island , which was previously privately owned, was attached to American Samoa, although it remained a US territory. German Samoa in 1920 was transferred under the control of New Zealand , since 1962 it became the independent state of Western Samoa, in 1997 renamed Samoa ). Until 1951, Eastern Samoa was controlled by the US Navy . In 1948, introduced elements of self-government. With the closure of the naval base in Pago Pago, the territory was placed under the control of the Department of the Interior , which appointed governors for American Samoa .

In 1960, the first constitution of the territory was adopted. In 1977, the first elections of the governor took place. The main political parties are the Democratic and Republican .

Tsunami September 29, 2009

September 29, 2009 at 17:48:11 UTC , an earthquake of 8.0 magnitude 190 km from the coast of American Samoa ^[4] . The earthquake produced a tsunami . According to reports, 4 waves in height from 4.6 m to 6.1 m passed 1.6 km to the coast of the island of Tutuila . At least 150 people died in American Samoa and an unidentified number in Western Samoa ^{[5] [6]} .

The territory extends its jurisdiction to the 7 eastern islands of the Samoa archipelago , stretching along 14 ° south latitude, about 170 ° west longitude, in the south Pacific , in southern Polynesia , east of Australia and northeast of New Zealand . Unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States ( English unincorporated and unorganized territory ).

Of the total area of ​​200,584 km², the land area is 199 km².

The island of Tutuila and the islands of the Manua group are of volcanic origin, mountainous in relief, with lava fields, covered with dense variable-wet evergreen tropical forests , surrounded by coral reefs . The islands of Rose and Swains are coral atolls . From minerals there are reserves of pumice .

The climate is tropical maritime, softened by the south-east trade wind . The average annual temperature is +26 ° C, July temperature is +24 ° C, December is +32 ° C. Precipitations are 3000–4000 mm per year. The rainy season is from November to March, during which, and especially in November, hurricane winds are the most frequent (the islands are located in the tropical cyclone belt). Dry ("winter") season - in April-October.

On the islands there is a shortage of fresh water . The soils are predominantly volcanic, in the central parts of the islands - rocky, along the coast - suitable for cultivation. American Samoa National Park was created to protect animals and vegetation of paleotropical variable-wet forests, as well as coastal coral reefs.

Administratively, American Samoa is divided into three districts ( English district ) and two "unorganized" atoll . The counties, in turn, are divided into 14 counties ( English county ). Provinces are divided into 74 districts ( English village ).

Ethnic composition: Pacific Islanders - 92.6% (including Samoans ( Polynesian group ) - 88.9%, Tongans - 2.9%, others - 3.8%), Asians - 3.6% (including Filipinos - 2, 2%, others - 1.4%), mixed - 2.7%, others - 1.2% (for 2010 ^[2] )

As of July 2017, the population of American Samoa was 55,504 people.

The total fertility rate is 2.68 children per woman. ^[2]

Age structure: up to 14 years old - 37.5% (men. - 10,705; women. - 17,125); from 15 to 64 years old - 61.3% (for males - 18,351; for females - 17,125); over 65 years of age - 3% (men. - 664; women. - 1080. As of 2005 .

The official languages ​​are English and Samoan (one of the Polynesian languages ). Most of the population is bilingual. Samoan 88.6%, English 3.9%, Tongan 2.7%, other languages ​​Pacific languages ​​3%, other 1.8% ^[2] .

More than 50% of believers are Protestants - Congregationalists , 30% are other Protestant denominations ( Methodists , Pentecostals from the Assembly of God , etc.), 20% are Catholics . Separate ritual practices of pagan origin are preserved. On the islands of Catholic and Anglican church and administrative structures. The Council of Seventh Day Adventist Christian Churches operates.

The structure of reproduction characteristic of developing countries, with a significant migration outflow: natural growth - 13.7 (birth rate - 19.6, mortality - 5.9 ‰), migration loss - 26.7, total growth - 13 ‰ ( 2017 ^[2] ). About 85,000 Samoans live in adjacent states of the United States and Hawaii . The age structure is also characteristic of developing countries — a high proportion of children (0–14 years old) - 33.4%, a low able-bodied (15–64 years old) - 62.7%, a very low proportion of old people (65 years and more) –3. 9% ( 2009 ). The average age of the population is 23.1 years. Men prevail - 104.4 per 100 women. The average life expectancy is 73.7 years (men 71, women 77). The population density is 286 people per square meter. km ( 2000 ). The most densely populated island is Tutuila , especially its south-western flat part (440 people per km²).

EAN - 30.8%, unemployment rate - 5.2% ( 2000 ). The population is occupied in industry (mainly fish processing and fish canning, concentrating about 1/3 of the EAN) and services (where a significant number of civil servants stand out — also about 1/3 of the EAN). In 1995, the following employment structure was observed: agriculture , fishing and forestry - 2.3%, industry and construction - 36.1%, services - 61.6%, including social services - 21.3%, government management - 17.2% (total state sector - 38.5%).

American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized territory within the United States ( English unorganized and unincorporated territory ) under the jurisdiction of the Department of Islands Affairs of the United States Ministry of the Interior ( English Department of Insular Affairs ). The President of the United States has the right to sovereignty over the territory, and is also the guarantor of the local constitution . The US government has custody of American Samoa. Residents of American Samoa participate in the Republican and Democratic parties' primaries , but they do not participate in the election of the President of the United States. The executive power on the islands is exercised by the governor elected for 4 years (since 2003 Togiola T.A. Tulafono), the legislative power is bicameral legislature (Fono). In the upper chamber - 18 people elected from among the leaders (matai) of the clans, in the lower chamber - 20 elected deputies and one representative of Swains Island without the right to vote. The delegate of American Samoa, without the right to vote, is sent to the House of Representatives of the US Congress . Residents of American Samoa are considered Americans by nationality ( English nationality ), but are not US citizens . Diplomatic relations are the responsibility of the American government.

Famous Congressmen

• Faleomavaega, Yeni is a delegate to the US Congress without the right to vote in the US House of Representatives from the American Samoan constituency for congressional elections with wide powers (from 1988 to 2015).

• The defense of American Samoa is the task of the US Armed Forces .

American Samoa’s GDP is $ 0.5 billion (according to PPP , 2000 ). The monetary unit is the US dollar . In the service sector, a significant proportion of public administration and social services, tourism is developed slightly. Three banks and 3 non-banking financial institutions. The main industry is the fish industry (processing of tuna , supplied mainly by American, South Korean and Taiwanese fishermen, and its canning; in large companies, they are usually combined). Crafts are developed. Pumice is mined on a small scale. Pineapples , bananas , coconut palm (raw materials for pr-va copra ), vegetables, papaya , breadfruit are grown. More than 90% of land in communal use. Cultivated land - 5%, under temporary crops - 10%. Highway - 150 km, 200 km - minor roads. Sea communication with the ports of the USA , Japan , Australia and New Zealand . Tafun International Airport (11 km from Pago Pago ). 15,000 telephone lines (2001), satellite communications station. Tesla Motors reported via Twitter that American Samoa’s islands are almost 100% solar powered due to the use of over 5,300 solar panels ^{[7] [8]} .

American Samoa’s exports amounted to $ 346.3 million (export quota was 69.3%), 96% was canned tuna, imports were $ 505.9 million, 44% (2000) were raw fish products (tuna), oil and petroleum products, food, clothing, vehicles. Negative trade balance. Foreign trade is focused on the United States (80% of trade, 56% of imports and almost all exports), other important trading partners (in terms of imports) - Australia , New Zealand , Fiji , Samoa , South Korea , Japan , China .

The average GDP per capita is $ 8,000 (according to PPP, 2000). 56% of households have an income below the official subsistence minimum in the United States.

Education : 97% of the adult population competently. Compulsory 12-year education. 59 preparatory, 32 primary and 9 secondary schools (for 1996). One college is the .

In accordance with the traditional culture of the Samoans, social organization is governed by the fa'amatai system, in which the basis of the social structure is aiga - clan, extended family , led by ormatai or matai - leader responsible for maintaining the continuity of generations, mythological conceptualization, relevance of customary law, preservation traditions. In the tourism industry, a number of Samoan ritual vocal and dance practices are being exploited.

Newspapers: Government daily News bulletin (in English, 1800 copies), Samoa news (in English and Samoan languages, 4500 copies, 5 times a week), Samoa Journal and Advertiser (in English and Samoan 3000 copies, daily). Two radio stations, and one television company (18 hours of broadcasting daily in English and Samoan languages, on two channels).

• Samoa
• Americans of Samoan origin

• Europe World Factbook, 2000

• American Samoa in the links directory Open Directory Project (dmoz)
• American Samoa Information