American Samoa is a US territory in Polynesia, distinct from the independent state of Samoa. Pago Pago is its capital and principal harbour.
Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Pago Pago; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapAmerican Samoa includes high volcanic islands and lower coral islands in the South Pacific. Tutuila, the largest and most populated island, has steep ridges and deeply cut valleys. Narrow coastal areas hold many roads and settlements.
Pago Pago Harbour occupies a sheltered inlet within this rugged terrain. Ofu and neighbouring islands combine steep land with beaches and reefs. The territory’s more remote coral islands have very different relief from Tutuila’s volcanic mountains.
The islands are warm and humid, with abundant rainfall. A wetter summer season alternates with a relatively drier period, and mountainous areas receive more rain.
Tropical forest covers many wet slopes, while reefs and coastal waters support marine ecosystems. Heavy rain can quickly move water through short, steep catchments. Conditions on low coral islands are more directly shaped by waves and limited freshwater resources.
A large white triangle edged in red is based on the right side and extends to the left side, and it is on a dark blue field; a bald eagle holding a Samoan war club ( fa'alaufa'i ) and a coconut-fiber fly whisk ( fue ) sits on the right side of the flag
Steep green hills surround Tutuila’s sheltered harbor.
Photo: Robert Schediwy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Mountains and coastal waters meet on the western side of Ofu.
Photo: NOAA Fisheries/Damaris Torres-Puliza · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Samoan and English are used in official public life. Samoan is the main language of everyday communication for much of the population.
English is important in administration and education, while Tongan and other Pacific languages are also spoken. Samoan is a Polynesian language shared with neighboring independent Samoa, although the two places have different political arrangements.
The Samoan archipelago developed its own chiefly institutions long before European contact. Tutuila and nearby islands were ceded to the United States in 1900, followed by the Manuʻa islands in 1904. American Samoa remains a US territory, distinct from the independent state of Samoa. Local government combines elected institutions with the continuing importance of Samoan communal land and chiefly traditions.
Tuna processing and the public sector are important sources of employment and income. Shipping, retail, construction and local services support the economy, while agriculture and fishing also contribute to household livelihoods. Remoteness and dependence on imported goods increase transport costs.
Tuna canning, port services, retail, construction and government services.
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 27,026 | 27.026 |
| 1980 | 32,403 | 32.403 |
| 1990 | 46,640 | 46.640 |
| 2000 | 56,855 | 56.855 |
| 2010 | 55,228 | 55.228 |
| 2020 | 49,761 | 49.761 |
| 2025 | 46,029 | 46.029 |
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 744,923,664 | 0.745 |
| 2003 | 752,116,031 | 0.752 |
| 2004 | 755,198,473 | 0.755 |
| 2005 | 752,116,031 | 0.752 |
| 2006 | 721,291,603 | 0.721 |
| 2007 | 734,648,855 | 0.735 |
| 2008 | 715,126,718 | 0.715 |
| 2009 | 685,329,771 | 0.685 |
| 2010 | 687,384,733 | 0.687 |
| 2011 | 687,384,733 | 0.687 |
| 2012 | 657,587,786 | 0.658 |
| 2013 | 641,148,092 | 0.641 |
| 2014 | 652,450,382 | 0.652 |
| 2015 | 673,000,000 | 0.673 |
| 2016 | 661,697,710 | 0.662 |
| 2017 | 615,461,069 | 0.615 |
| 2018 | 631,900,763 | 0.632 |
| 2019 | 628,818,321 | 0.629 |
| 2020 | 656,560,305 | 0.657 |
| 2021 | 651,422,901 | 0.651 |
| 2022 | 662,725,191 | 0.663 |
An unincorporated, unorganized territory of the United States with an elected Governor and a two-chamber legislature, the Fono. Senators are selected through traditional chiefly procedures and representatives are elected. The US Department of the Interior has federal oversight responsibilities.
Three questions about American Samoa.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.
