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| American Samoa | Introduction | Back to Top |
American Samoa, unorganised territory of the United States, formed by a group of seven islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, comprising Tutuila, on which a US naval station is located; the Manua group, consisting of Tau, Olosega, and Ofu; Aunuu; Rose Island; and Swains Island. Privately owned Swains Island and uncolonised Rose Island are coral atolls; the other islands are mountainous and of volcanic formation.
Official Name- American Samoa| American Samoa | Provinces | Back to Top |
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
| American Samoa | People | Back to Top |
The Samoans are a branch of the Polynesian people. Their language is considered to be one of the oldest forms of Polynesian used today. Most Samoans also speak English. The majority of Samoans are Christians; though some of the practices of their orthodox, animistic religions may still be followed, these orthodox religions have virtually disappeared. Samoan society is organized around the extended family, or aigu, headed by a chief. orthodox houses have oval, thatched roofs and are supported on wooden poles. Foreigners, including Americans, are prohibited by local laws from buying Samoan-owned land. Many Samoans have migrated to Hawaii and the continental United States.
| American Samoa | Education | Back to Top |
Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 18. Instruction is provided by 30 public primary schools and 6 private schools, about 160 village schools, for early education, and a community college. In the consolidated public elementary schools, television is used for instruction purposes.
| American Samoa | History | Back to Top |
Samoa Islands were the original home of the Polynesian race, from which colonists peopled the other Polynesian islands of the Pacific. Ethnologists, now believe that two separate waves of immigrants populated the islands, the first group likely originating in southeastern Asia. The later migration displaced the original Samoans, who then began to colonize the more easterly islands of Polynesia. The first European to visit the islands in 1722 was Jacob Roggeveen. In 1768 Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a French explorer, named the group the Navigators Islands. During the 19th century Germany, Britain, and the United States accomplished commercial posts on the islands. In 1878 the United States annexed Pago Pago for use as a naval coaling station.
| American Samoa | Culture | Back to Top |
Agriculture is a principal occupation, and tuna fishing and tourism are major industries. The most valuable crops include taro, coconuts, bananas, oranges, pineapples, papayas, and yams. Additional food must be imported. Canned tuna as well as grass mats and other handicrafts are exported. The economy, remains largely dependent upon grants and appropriations by the Congress of the United States. Regular shipping services connect American Samoa with the mainland United States, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
| Malaysia | Land | Back to Top |
N/A
| American Samoa | Economy | Back to Top |
This is a orthodox 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 the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. 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, a developing sector, has been held back by the recurring financial difficulties in East Asia.
| American Samoa | Communications | Back to Top |
Domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
International: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
| American Samoa | Politics | Back to Top |
Democratic Party [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA]
| American Samoa | Legal | Back to Top |
Legal system: NA
vote: 18 years of age; universal
Administrator branch: chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President valuableard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
Head of government: Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 3 January 1997)
Cabinet: NA
Elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
Election results: Tauese P. SUNIA reelected governor; % of vote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 50.7%, Lealaifuaneva Peter REID (independent) 47.8%
Legislative branch: bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)
| American Samoa | organization | Back to Top |
ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
| American Samoa | Defence | Back to Top |
defense is the responsibility of the US
| Malaysia | International Disputes | Back to Top |
None
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| American Samoa | Time | Back to Top |
| American Samoa | Currency and General Information | Back to Top |
| Countries Currency Unit | USD/Unit | Units/USD | |
| DZD | Algeria Dinars | 0.0129554 | 77.1877 |
| USD | United States Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| ARS | Argentina Pesos | 0.341293 | 2.93004 |
| AUD | Australia Dollars | 0.533413 | 1.87472 |
| ATS | Austria Schillings ** | 0.0632609 | 15.8076 |
| BSD | Bahamas Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| BBD | Barbados Dollars | 0.502513 | 1.99000 |
| BEF | Belgium Francs ** | 0.0215788 | 46.3417 |
| BMD | Bermuda Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| BRL | Brazil Reals | 0.430318 | 2.32386 |
| GBP | United Kingdom Pounds | 1.42399 | 0.702251 |
| BGL | Bulgaria Leva | 0.447293 | 2.23567 |
| CAD | Canada Dollars | 0.627606 | 1.59336 |
| CLP | Chile Pesos | 0.00152392 | 656.202 |
| CNY | China Yuan Renminbi | 0.120813 | 8.27726 |
| CYP | Cyprus Pounds | 1.49883 | 0.667186 |
| CZK | Czech Republic Koruny | 0.0281883 | 35.4758 |
| DKK | Denmark Kroner | 0.117155 | 8.53568 |
| XCD | East Caribbean Dollars | 0.370370 | 2.70000 |
| EGP | Egypt Pounds | 0.217271 | 4.60255 |
| EUR | Euro | 0.870489 | 1.14878 |
| FJD | Fiji Dollars | 0.447227 | 2.23600 |
| FIM | Finland Markkaa ** | 0.146406 | 6.83034 |
| FRF | France Francs ** | 0.132705 | 7.53550 |
| DEM | Germany Deutsche Marks ** | 0.445074 | 2.24682 |
| XAU | Gold Ounces | 301.977 | 0.00331151 |
| GRD | Greece Drachmae ** | 0.00255463 | 391.447 |
| HKD | Hong Kong Dollars | 0.128215 | 7.79939 |
| HUF | Hungary Forint | 0.00358416 | 279.006 |
| ISK | Iceland Kronur | 0.00999868 | 100.013 |
| INR | India Rupees | 0.0205205 | 48.7319 |
| IDR | Indonesia Rupiahs | 0.000102055 | 9,798.61 |
| IEP | Ireland Pounds ** | 1.10529 | 0.904738 |
| ILS | Israel New Shekels | 0.212386 | 4.70841 |
| ITL | Italy Lire ** | 0.000449570 | 2,224.35 |
| JMD | Jamaica Dollars | 0.0210041 | 47.6099 |
| JPY | Japan Yen | 0.00754183 | 132.594 |
| JOD | Jordan Dinars | 1.41057 | 0.708931 |
| LBP | Lebanon Pounds | 0.000660937 | 1,513.00 |
| LUF | Luxembourg Francs ** | 0.0215788 | 46.3417 |
| MYR | Malaysia Ringgits | 0.263330 | 3.79751 |
| MXN | Mexico Pesos | 0.111007 | 9.00848 |
| NZD | New Zealand Dollars | 0.440474 | 2.27028 |
| NOK | Norway Kroner | 0.113022 | 8.84780 |
| NLG | Netherlands Guilders ** | 0.395011 | 2.53158 |
| PKR | Pakistan Rupees | 0.0166945 | 59.9000 |
| PHP | Philippines Pesos | 0.0196386 | 50.9202 |
| XPT | Platinum Ounces | 510.962 | 0.00195709 |
| PLN | Poland Zlotych | 0.243488 | 4.10699 |
| PTE | Portugal Escudos ** | 0.00434198 | 230.310 |
| ROL | Romania Lei | 0.0000303433 | 32,956.21 |
| RUR | Russia Rubles | 0.0321342 | 31.1195 |
| SAR | Saudi Arabia Riyals | 0.266668 | 3.74998 |
| XAG | Silver Ounces | 4.65692 | 0.214734 |
| SGD | Singapore Dollars | 0.542540 | 1.84318 |
| SKK | Slovakia Koruny | 0.0208441 | 47.9751 |
| ZAR | South Africa Rand | 0.0883340 | 11.3207 |
| KRW | South Korea Won | 0.000759354 | 1,316.91 |
| ESP | Spain Pesetas ** | 0.00523174 | 191.141 |
| XDR | IMF Special Drawing Rights | 1.24862 | 0.800882 |
| SDD | Sudan Dinars | 0.00384615 | 260.000 |
| SEK | Sweden Kronor | 0.0964189 | 10.3714 |
| CHF | Switzerland Francs | 0.593789 | 1.68410 |
| TWD | Taiwan New Dollars | 0.0286531 | 34.9002 |
| THB | Thailand Baht | 0.0230087 | 43.4619 |
| TTD | Trinidad and Tobago Dollars | 0.163399 | 6.12000 |
| TRL | Turkey Liras | 0.000000763622 | 1,309,549.07 |
| VEB | Venezuela Bolivares | 0.00108696 | 920.000 |
| ZMK | Zambia Kwacha | 0.000239866 | 4,169.00 |
| American Samoa : Geographic coordinates | 14 20 S, 170 00 W |
| American Samoa : Population growth rate | 2.42% |
| American Samoa : Birth rate | 24.88 births/1,000 population |
| American Samoa : Death rate | 4.31 deaths/1,000 population |
| American Samoa : People living with HIV/AIDS | N/A |
| American Samoa : Independence | N/A |
| American Samoa : National holiday | Flag Day, 17 April |
| American Samoa : Constitution | 1967 |
| American Samoa : GDP | purchasing power parity - $500 million |
| American Samoa : GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $8,000 |
| American Samoa : Electricity - consumption | 120.9 million kWh |
| American Samoa : Exports | $500 million canned tuna. |
| American Samoa : Imports | $471 million ls for canneries, food, petroleum products etc. |
| American Samoa : Telephones | 13,000 |
| American Samoa : Mobile cellular | 2,550 |
| American Samoa : Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 |
| American Samoa : Radios | 57,000 |
| American Samoa : Television broadcast stations | 1 |
| American Samoa : Televisions | 14,000 |
| American Samoa : Internet country code | .as |
| American Samoa : Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 1 |
| American Samoa : Internet users | N/A |
| American Samoa : Railways | 0 km |
| American Samoa : Highways | N/A |
| American Samoa : Waterways | 350 km |
| American Samoa : Pipelines | N/A |
| American Samoa : Ports and harbors | Aunu'u, Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago |
| American Samoa : Merchant marine | N/A |
| American Samoa : Airports | 4 |
| American Samoa : Heliports | N/A |
| American Samoa : Military branches | N/A |
| American Samoa : Military expenditures | N/A |