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.
Population:
67,084 (July 2001 est.)
Currency:
US dollar (USD)
Languages:
Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), Englishbr>i>note
Elevation:
highest point: Lata 966 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural hazards:
typhoons common from December to March
Climate:
tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation
This is 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 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.
Industry:
tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Ethnicgroups:
Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Yellow fever:
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
