Amerika Sāmoa | |
Unincorporated territory of the United States | |
Motto Samoa, Muamua Le Atua Samoa, Let God Be First | |
Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Amerika Samoa | |
Region | Samoan Islands |
Capital | Pago Pago |
Government | Unorganized territory |
Head of state | |
- From 2009 | Barack Obama |
Governor | |
- From 2003 | Togiola Tulafono |
Legislature | Fono |
- Unicameral chamber | House of Representatives |
History | |
- 1899 | Tripartite Convention |
- 1900 | Deed of Cession of Tutuila |
- 1904 | Deed of Cession of Manu'a |
- 1925 | Annexation of Swains Island |
Area | 199 km² |
Population | |
- 2007 | 68,200 |
Density | 342.7/km² |
GDP | 2007 (PPP) |
- Total | US$ 0.5 billion |
- Per capita | US$ 7,874 |
Currency | US dollar |
v |
American Samoa is an unincorporated unorganized territory of the United States, located in Polynesia.
Background
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.[1]
Economy
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.[2]
Head of state
- Barack Obama (₩) (January 20, 2009 - )
Governor
- Togiola Tulafono (₩) (March 26, 2003 - )
Nation
United States (Territories)
United States Unincorporated Territories
Guam (From 1898)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (From 1978)
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (From 1952)
United States Virgin Islands (From 1917)
Panama Canal Zone (1903-1979)
Samoan Polities
Independent State of Samoa (From 1962)
German Samoa