American Samoa

American Samoa is a group of 7 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States, and its residents are U.S. nationals who may become naturalized U.S. citizens. American Samoa has a land mass of 77 square miles spread over 150 miles of water, with an estimated population of 65,628 (CIA, 2009). Pago Pago, the capital, is located on the island of Tutuila, which has approximately 95% of the population. According to the 2000 Census, 91.6% of the population is native Pacific Islander, 2.8% is Asian, 1.1% white, and 0.2% other. While 97% of the population speaks English, most speak another language more frequently. Over 90% of the population speaks Samoan.

American Samoa has one hospital, the LBJ Tropical Medical Center, a 128-bed general acute care hospital, and five primary health centers. According to the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, in 2003 American Samoa was served by 49 physicians, 15 dentists, 2 pharmacists, and 127 nurses. The American Samoa Department of Health is responsible for public health, communicable disease control, and local health dispensaries.

According to the American Samoa Department of Commerce, the median household income for American Samoans is $18,219, with approximately 61% of the population below poverty level. Data from the 2000 Census finds that almost 34% of the American Samoans had not completed high school. Approximately 52% of the population 16 years and older is part of the labor force, with 49.4% employed and 2.7% unemployed.

For additional resources and information, please see the Pacific Territories, Commonwealth, and Freely Associated States.

Data Sources:

American Samoa Fact Sheet

CIA World Fact Book: American Samoa

Country Health Information Profile: American Samoa

Population and Housing Profile: 2000 for American Samoa

U.S. Affiliated Pacific Basin Jurisdictions: Legal, Geographic and Demographic Information

Organizations

American Samoa Community Cancer Network (ASCCN)
National organization
Aims to reduce cancer incidence and mortality in the U.S. Territory of American Samoa by promoting cancer awareness within American Samoan communities and initiating a cancer research and training program to develop indigenous Samoan researchers.

American Samoa Government
International organization
Official web site of the government of American Samoa.

Tools

American Samoa Fact Sheet
Web site
Provides current statistics on American Samoa's geography, population and demographics, and economy.
Sponsoring organization: American Samoa Government

American Samoa Resources
Web site
List of American Samoa agency and organization contacts related to children with disabilities.
Sponsoring organization: National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

Census State Data Centers: Outlying Areas
Web site
Lists official sources of state-level demographic, economic, and social statistics produced by the U.S. Census Bureau for American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

CIA World Fact Book: American Samoa
Web site
Provides current information on American Samoa, covering geography, population characteristics, government and the economy.
Sponsoring organization: Central Intelligence Agency

Office of Insular Affairs: American Samoa
Web site
Provides Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) Field Office information, as well as an overview of American Samoa's history, government, economy, demographics, and more.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of the Interior: Office of Insular Affairs

Population and Housing Profile: 2000 for American Samoa
Web site
Provides detailed demographic, economic and housing data for American Samoa based on the 2000 Census.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau

Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics: 2000 for American Samoa
Web site
Provides detailed data on age, ethnicity, employment, poverty, and housing characteristics for American Samoa, based on the 2000 Census.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau

Title V: A Snapshot of Maternal and Child Health: American Samoa
Web site
Presents data on maternal and child health for American Samoa.
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Funding

Inactive Funding

Inactive Funding Opportunities - Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.

Documents, Reports and Other Publications

American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2006
Sponsoring organization: American Samoa Government
Provides detailed information on historical and current economic and social characteristics for American Samoa.
Date: 12 / 2006

Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant State Narrative for American Samoa
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau
American Samoa's Title V maternal and child health annual report for 2005. Includes an overview of American Samoa, its health system, and maternal and child health status.
Date: 2006

Title V Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment: American Samoa
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Provides access to American Samoa's maternal and child health needs assessment for the period of 2005-2010. Includes a detailed overview of maternal and child health status in American Samoa.
Date: 2005

Western Pacific Country Health Information Profile: American Samoa
Sponsoring organization: World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office
Provides an overview of health issues in American Samoa. Covers the political and economic situation, health trends, the health system, and health indicators for American Samoa.
Date: 2006

Success Stories

U.S. Pacific Islands: Helping Hearts
The purpose of this program is to provide the U.S. Pacific Islands region with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), and educate to residents so they can train others in their use and save more lives.