According to abbreviationfinder, American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga and south of Tokelau and the Pacific Ocean, is frequently hit by typhoons between December and is one of the 17 non-autonomous territories under supervision of the United Nations Decolonization Committee.
Government and politics
The status of territory not incorporated into the United States, dependent on the Secretary of the Interior, with the right to a representative in the US Congress but without being able to vote for the president. The government of the island is in charge of the governor and lieutenant governor, both elected every four years, in addition to a bicameral parliament, where the members of the House of Representatives are elected by popular vote, while the senators are elected among the Matai, following local customs. Governor Togiola Tulafono has been elected for a four-year term, in the second round. To represent the island in Washington, Democrat Eni H. Faleomavaega was elected.
Geography
The country is divided into 5 volcanic and very mountainous islands: Tutuila, which has the largest surface area with 141.81 km²; Aunu’u located southeast of Tutuila, which has an area of 1,517 km²; To the east is the group of Manu’a islands with an area of 56.6 km² that includes Ofu, Olosega and Tau, it also has 2 coral atolls: Swains and Rose is the easternmost point of the territory and a National Monument of the Uninhabited marina. See American Samoa facts.
Climate
Due to the humid and temperate tropical climate it suffers contrasts of great intensity depending on the topography and orientation, the rains tend to be more severe on the islands of volcanic origin than in other places, since their reliefs stop the Trade Winds, while on the other side there are the flat coral islands, which can suffer droughts. The average temperature oscillates between 24 and 28 ° C all year round, although it undergoes some variations:
- Rainy season between November and April, accompanied by a hot and very humid temperature, even suffocating, an often cloudy sky and violent storms in the late afternoon; Storms, even cyclones, can arise between December and March, however, the ocean has a maximum temperature of about 28 ° C.
- Dry or “cool” season between May and September, the most favorable for traveling, with very sunny weather, pleasant temperatures (between 22 and 26 ° C) and a delicious sea (24-25 ° C), especially in the lagoons.
Economy
Agriculture, tuna fishing and tourism are the main industries. The main crops are taro, coconut, banana, orange, pineapple, papaya, breadfruit and yam. Other additional foods are imported. Canned tuna as well as mats and other artisan products are the main sources of export.
Transport
It lacks rail transport. The main form of transport on the island is therefore land through road; counting for this with more than 221 kilometers of highways and highways until 2007, it also has the option of maritime transport; through the five ports and / or piers of the island: Aunu’u, Auasi, Faleāsao, Ofu and Pago Pago and has three air facilities, all of them with paved runways, the International Airport of the capital which is the main means access to the island.
Demography
The population is approximately 68,061 residents, of which 95% live on the largest island, Tutuila. 91.6% of the population is originally from Samoa, 2.8% from Asia, 1.1% from white, 4.2% from mestizos and 0.3% from others; 90.6% of its residents speak Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), 2.9% speak English, and 8.1% speak other Pacific Island languages. 98.3% of the population is of the Christian religion. The island contains 23 primary schools and 6 secondary schools.
Age distribution
0-14 years: 31.9% (men 10,910 / women 10,518)
15-64 years: 63.9% (men 21,764 / women 21,228)
65 years and over: 4.2% (men 1,322 / women 1,500)
Distribution by sex
at birth: 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
Growth rate
1,211%
Birth rate
22.69 births / 1,000 residents
Mortality rate
4.11 deaths / 1,000 residents
Infant mortality rate
males: 12.21 deaths / 1,000 births
women: 6.46 deaths / 1,000 births
Net migration rate
6.46 migrant (s) / 1,000 residents
Religion
Until 2010, 98.3% of the population practicing Christianity, 0.7% Agnosticism, 0.4% Chinese Universalist, 0.3% Buddhism and 0.3% Bahaism, it was published that the religious affiliations of American Samoa were: 50% Congregational Christians 20 % Catholic and Protestant Christians and other 30%.
Culture
The culture of the Samoans is based on the “fa’amatai”, a system of government headed by the patriarch, the “matai”, who runs the “aigai”, that is, the family in the broadest sense of the word. Food and goods are distributed according to the needs of each one, while all members of the “aigai” must obey the patriarch and respect a certain code of honor. The “matai” represents the family within the village council and is in charge of judging conflicts and ensuring that religious taboos and prohibitions are respected, mainly in regard to the memory of ancestors. Therefore, Samoans are today devout Christians and Sunday Mass is the most important event of the week. As for the songs and dances, the “fiafia”, originally a sacred ceremony, has been transformed into a folkloric spectacle for tourists. Finally, the practice of tattooing is deeply rooted among Samoans who, since adolescence, have covered their bodies with drawings, from head to toe.
Sports
The main sports practiced in American Samoa are Samoan Cricket, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, American Football, Wrestling, Sumo, Swimming and Volleyball is also popular.
