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.

Geography American Samoa

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S, 170 00 W

Map references: Oceania

Area: includes Rose Island and Swains Island water: Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 116 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

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

Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal
plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Lata 966 m

Natural resources: pumice, pumicite

Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 10% other: 85% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March

Environment - current issues: 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

Geography - 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 American Samoa

Population: 68,688 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.1% (male 13,445; female 12,688) 15-64
years: 56.7% (male 19,228; female 19,741) 65 years and over: 5.2%
(male 1,931; female 1,655) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.31% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 24.04 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.17 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2