ive volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited
coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m

Natural resources: pumice, pumicite

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 75%
other: 10%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas
of the island, water supplies come from roof catchments
natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: 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

People
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Population: 59,566 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 3.77% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 35.75 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 74.85 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic divisions: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan
4%, other 5%

Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,
Protestant denominations and other 30%

Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other
Polynesian languages), English
note: most people are bilingual

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS

Data code: AQ

Type of government: unincorporated and unorganized territory of
the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of
Terri