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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
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Geographic coordinates:
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14 20 S, 170 00 W
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Map references:
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Area:
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total: 199 sq km
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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116 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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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
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Terrain:
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five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
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Natural resources:
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pumice, pumicite
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Land use:
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arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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NA
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons common from December to March
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Environment - current issues:
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limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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57,663 (July 2007 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 33.6% (male 10,049/female 9,345)
15-64 years: 63.5% (male 19,041/female 17,556)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 606/female 1,066) (2007 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 23.6 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 23.8 years (2007 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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-0.262% (2007 est.)
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Birth rate:
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21.83 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Death rate:
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3.24 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-21.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.075 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.085 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.568 male(s)/female
total population: 1.062 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 8.88 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 76.25 years
male: 72.69 years
female: 80.02 years (2007 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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3.07 children born/woman (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan
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Ethnic groups:
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native Pacific islander 92.9%, Asian 2.9%, white 1.2%, mixed 2.8%, other 0.2% (2000 census)
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Religions:
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Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
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Languages:
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Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2%
note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
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This page was last updated on 24 January, 2008
- The Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook - |
