sociate justices
are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [leader NA];

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)

Flag description: blue, with a white triangle edged in red that
is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown
and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is
carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a
war club

Economy

Economy--overview: This is a traditional Polynesian economy in
which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic
activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa
conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna
processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with
canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add
substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being. According to
one observer, attempts by the government to develop a larger and
broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its
limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism, a
developing sector, may be held back by the current financial
difficulties in East Asia.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$150 million (1995 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,600 (1995 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 13,949 (1996)

Labor force--by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%,
other 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)

Budget:
revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants )
expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97)

Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing
vessels), handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 105 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 105 m