American Samoa

Map of American Samoa

Country	Territory of American Samoa
Capital	Pago Pago
Population	54,947 (July 2012 est.)
Sex ratio	1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Nationality	American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
Religions	Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
Languages	Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2%
Literacy	Age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 97% Male: 98% Female: 97% (1980 est.)
Location	Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates	14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references	Oceania
Area	total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area - comparative	slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries	0 km
Coastline	116 km
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	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
Terrain	five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Natural resources	pumice, pumicite
Land use	arable land: 10% permanent crops: 15% other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land	NA
Natural hazards	typhoons common from December to March volcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century
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
Geography - note	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