Administrative divisions of American Samoa

American Samoa is administratively divided into three districts (Western, Eastern and Manu‘a) and two unorganized atolls (Swains Island and Rose Atoll). The districts are subdivided into 15 counties,[lower-alpha 1] which are composed of 76 villages.[9]

Districts and unorganized atolls of American Samoa
Western Eastern Swains Island Rose Atoll Manu‘a Pacific Ocean Tutuila Aunu‘u Ofu Olosega Ta‘ū
Category	County equivalent
Location	American Samoa
Number	3 districts 2 unorganized atolls
Populations	31,329 (Western District) – 0 (Rose Atoll)
Areas	27.51 sq mi (71.25 km^2) (Western District) – 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km^2) (Rose Atoll)
Government	Local government
Subdivisions	Counties and villages

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau counts the three districts and two unorganized atolls as five county equivalents, while treating the actual counties as "minor civil divisions".[10]

American Samoa has only one U.S. zip code: 96799.[11]

Divisions

island/atoll	district	county	villages[9]
Tutuila	Western	Lealataua	Fagamalo, Maloata, Fagali‘i, Poloa, Amanave, Failolo, Agugulu, Utumea West, Se‘etaga, Nua, Afao, Asili, Amaluia
		Fofo[lower-alpha 1]	Leone, Auma, Puapua
		Leasina	Aasu,[lower-alpha 2] Aoloau, Malaeloa/Aitulagi
		Tualatai	Malaeloa/Ituau, Futiga, Taputimu, Vailoatai
		Tualauta	Vaitogi, Ili‘ili, Tafuna,[lower-alpha 3] Pava‘ia‘i, Faleniu, Mapusagafou, Mesepa, Malaeimi[lower-alpha 4]
	Eastern	Itu‘au	Fagasa, Nu‘uuli,[lower-alpha 5] Faganeanea, Matu‘u
		Ma‘oputasi	Fatumafuti, Faga‘alu, Utulei, Fagatogo, Pago Pago, Satala, Anua, Atu‘u, Leloaloa, Aua
		Vaifanua	Vatia, Alao, Tula, Onenoa, Aoa
		Sua	Sa‘ilele, Masausi, Masefau, Afono, Lauli‘i, Aumi, Alega, Avaio, Auto, Amaua, Utusia, Faga‘itua, Pagai[lower-alpha 6]
		Sa‘ole	Pagai,[lower-alpha 6] Alofau, Amouli, Auasi, Utumea East
Aunu‘u			Aunu‘u
Ofu	Manu‘a	Ofu	Ofu
Olosega		Olosega	Olosega, Sili
Ta‘ū		Ta‘ū	Si‘ufaga, Luma
		Faleasao	Faleasao
		Fitiuta	Maia, Leusoali‘i
Swains	—	—	Taulaga, Etena (abandoned)[12]
Rose	—	—	—

Maps

Swains Island Rose Atoll Sa‘ole Ofu Olosega Ta‘ū Faleasao Fitiuta Vaifanua Sua ╱ ╲ Ma‘oputasi Itu‘au Tualauta Leasina Lealataua Fofo Tualatai

Counties of American Samoa[lower-alpha 1][13]

Fagamalo Maloata Fagali‘i Poloa Amanave Failolo Agugulu Utumea West Se‘etaga Nua Afao Asili Amaluia Leone Auma Puapua Aasu Aoloau Malaeloa/ Aitulagi    Malaeloa/ Ituau Futiga Taputimu Vailoatai Vaitogi Ili‘ili Tafuna Pava‘ia‘i Faleniu Mapusagafou Mesepa Malaeimi Fagasa Nu‘uuli Faganeanea Matu‘u Fatumafuti Faga‘alu Utulei Fagatogo Pago Pago Satala Anua Atu‘u Leloaloa Aua Vatia Alao Tula Onenoa Aoa Sa‘ilele Masausi Masefau Afono Lauli‘i Aumi Alega Avaio Auto Amaua Utusia Faga‘itua Pagai Alofau Amouli Auasi Utumea East Aunu‘u Ofu Olosega Sili Si‘ufaga Luma Faleasao Maia Leusoali‘i

Villages of American Samoa[13]

Statistics

The statistics below are from the 2010 census.

• island/atoll[8][9]	population		land area
  	number	%	sq mi	km^2	%
  Tutuila	53,923	97.13%	52.62	136.29	68.82%
  Aunu‘u	436	0.79%	0.58	1.50	0.76%
  Ofu	176	0.32%	2.84	7.36	3.71%
  Olosega	177	0.32%	2.04	5.28	2.67%
  Ta‘ū	790	1.42%	17.41	45.09	22.77%
  Swains	17	0.03%	0.94	2.43	1.23%
  Rose	0	0.00%	0.03	0.08	0.04%
  American Samoa	55,519	100.00%	76.46	198.03	100.00%

  district[8]	population		land area
  	number	%	sq mi	km^2	%
  Western[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]	31,329	56.43%	27.51	71.25	35.98%
  Eastern[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]	23,030	41.48%	25.69	66.54	33.60%
  Manu‘a	1,143	2.06%	22.29	57.73	29.15%

  county[8]	population		land area
  	number	%	sq mi	km^2	%
  Lealataua[lower-alpha 7]	1,965	3.54%	6.98	18.08	9.13%
  Fofo[lower-alpha 8]	3,138	5.65%	1.99	5.15	2.60%
  Leasina[lower-alpha 2]	1,807	3.25%	7.03	18.21	9.19%
  Tualatai	3,561	6.41%	2.61	6.76	3.41%
  Tualauta[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]	20,858	37.57%	8.89	23.02	11.63%
  Itu‘au[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]	4,676	8.42%	5.56	14.40	7.27%
  Ma‘oputasi	10,299	18.55%	6.63	17.17	8.67%
  Vaifanua	2,545	4.58%	4.60	11.91	6.02%
  Sua	3,323	5.99%	6.60	17.09	8.63%
  Sa‘ole	2,187	3.94%	2.31	5.98	3.02%
  Ofu	176	0.32%	2.84	7.36	3.71%
  Olosega	177	0.32%	2.04	5.28	2.67%
  Ta‘ū	358	0.64%	6.13	15.88	8.02%
  Faleasao	162	0.29%	2.68	6.94	3.51%
  Fitiuta	270	0.49%	8.60	22.27	11.25%

•      

• village[9]	population		land area
  	number	%	sq mi	km^2	%
  Fagamalo	47	0.08%	1.39	3.60	1.82%
  Maloata	8	0.01%	1.21	3.13	1.58%
  Fagali‘i	247	0.44%	0.60	1.55	0.78%
  Poloa	193	0.35%	0.32	0.83	0.42%
  Amanave	250	0.45%	0.30	0.78	0.39%
  Failolo	108	0.19%	0.25	0.65	0.33%
  Agugulu	51	0.09%	0.15	0.39	0.20%
  Utumea West	53	0.10%	0.26	0.67	0.34%
  Se‘etaga	299	0.54%	0.27	0.70	0.35%
  Nua	141	0.25%	0.37	0.96	0.48%
  Afao	182	0.33%	0.54	1.40	0.71%
  Asili	224	0.40%	0.54	1.40	0.71%
  Amaluia	162	0.29%	0.78	2.02	1.02%
  Leone	1,919	3.46%	1.49	3.86	1.95%
  Auma	254	0.46%	0.13	0.34	0.17%
  Puapua	965	1.74%	0.37	0.96	0.48%
  Aasu[lower-alpha 2]	494	0.89%	3.44	8.91	4.50%
  Aoloau	615	1.11%	2.24	5.80	2.93%
  Malaeloa/Aitulagi	698	1.26%	1.39	3.60	1.82%
  Malaeloa/Ituau	550	0.99%	0.23	0.60	0.30%
  Futiga	723	1.30%	1.35	3.50	1.77%
  Taputimu	841	1.51%	0.62	1.61	0.81%
  Vailoatai	1,447	2.61%	0.41	1.06	0.54%
  Vaitogi	1,959	3.53%	1.38	3.57	1.80%
  Ili‘ili	3,195	5.75%	1.39	3.60	1.82%
  Tafuna[lower-alpha 3]	7,945	14.31%	2.49	6.45	3.26%
  Pava‘ia‘i	2,450	4.41%	0.73	1.89	0.95%
  Faleniu	1,898	3.42%	0.25	0.65	0.33%
  Mapusagafou	1,126	2.03%	0.80	2.07	1.05%
  Mesepa	444	0.80%	0.11	0.28	0.14%
  Malaeimi[lower-alpha 4]	1,182	2.13%	1.65	4.27	2.16%
  Fagasa	831	1.50%	1.65	4.27	2.16%
  Nu‘uuli[lower-alpha 5]	3,955	7.12%	2.97	7.69	3.88%
  Faganeanea	150	0.27%	0.53	1.37	0.69%
  Matu‘u	399	0.72%	0.47	1.22	0.61%
  Fatumafuti	113	0.20%	0.04	0.10	0.05%
  Faga‘alu	910	1.64%	0.45	1.17	0.59%
  Utulei	684	1.23%	0.33	0.85	0.43%
  Fagatogo	1,737	3.13%	0.71	1.84	0.93%
  Pago Pago	3,656	6.59%	3.43	8.88	4.49%
  Satala	297	0.53%	0.15	0.39	0.20%
  Anua	18	0.03%	0.07	0.18	0.09%
  Atu‘u	359	0.65%	0.06	0.16	0.08%
  Leloaloa	448	0.81%	0.34	0.88	0.44%
  Aua	2,077	3.74%	1.05	2.72	1.37%
  Vatia	640	1.15%	2.50	6.47	3.27%
  Alao	495	0.89%	0.53	1.37	0.69%
  Tula	405	0.73%	0.51	1.32	0.67%
  Onenoa	150	0.27%	0.40	1.04	0.52%
  Aoa	855	1.54%	0.67	1.74	0.88%
  Sa‘ilele	75	0.14%	0.54	1.40	0.71%
  Masausi	164	0.30%	0.37	0.96	0.48%
  Masefau	425	0.77%	1.64	4.25	2.14%
  Afono	524	0.94%	0.98	2.54	1.28%
  Lauli‘i	892	1.61%	0.52	1.35	0.68%
  Aumi	186	0.34%	0.70	1.81	0.92%
  Alega	54	0.10%	0.39	1.01	0.51%
  Avaio	44	0.08%	0.28	0.73	0.37%
  Auto	262	0.47%	0.33	0.85	0.43%
  Amaua	96	0.17%	0.31	0.80	0.41%
  Utusia	74	0.13%	0.12	0.31	0.16%
  Faga‘itua	433	0.78%	0.39	1.01	0.51%
  Pagai[lower-alpha 6]	118	0.21%	0.15	0.39	0.20%
  Alofau	646	1.16%	0.50	1.29	0.65%
  Amouli	920	1.66%	0.66	1.71	0.86%
  Auasi	113	0.20%	0.26	0.67	0.34%
  Utumea East	48	0.09%	0.19	0.49	0.25%
  Aunu‘u	436	0.79%	0.58	1.50	0.76%
  Ofu	176	0.32%	2.84	7.36	3.71%
  Olosega	172	0.31%	1.22	3.16	1.60%
  Sili	5	0.01%	0.81	2.10	1.06%
  Si‘ufaga	175	0.32%	5.77	14.94	7.55%
  Luma	183	0.33%	0.36	0.93	0.47%
  Faleasao	162	0.29%	2.68	6.94	3.51%
  Maia	153	0.28%	4.38	11.34	5.73%
  Leusoali‘i	117	0.21%	4.22	10.93	5.52%

Local government structure

Amata Coleman Radewagen's congressional website said the following about American Samoa's districts:[14]

Each [district] is administered by a district governor who is appointed by the territorial governor. To be qualified as a district governor, an individual must hold a Matai title within the district to which he/she is to be appointed.[14]

The U.S. National Park Service says the following about the structure of villages in American Samoa:[15]

In general each village is made up of a group of aiga (extended families) which include as many relatives as can be claimed. Each aiga is headed by a matai (chief) who represents the family on all matters including the village council, or fono. Matai's hold title to all assets of the aigas, or families, they represent and are responsible for law enforcement and punishment of infractions occurring in their villages. The fono consists of the matais of all the aiga associated with the village. The highest chief of the matais of all the village aigas is the highest chief or the ali'i and heads the fono. Also, each village has a pulenu'u (somewhat like a police chief or mayor) and one or more talking chiefs, tulafale."[15]

Notes

1. An American Samoan law of 1962 defined 14 counties.[1] The constitution of 1967, signed by delegates from these 14 counties, established 15 counties from then on, separating Fofo from Lealataua.[2] The election law was later revised accordingly,[3][4][5] and the government lists 15 counties, including Fofo with its own chief,[6] representative and senator.[7] The law defining the counties was not revised but the constitution overrides it where inconsistent. However, the U.S. Census Bureau continues to list 14 counties, treating Fofo as part of Lealataua.[8][9]
2. The 2010 census listed Aasu village with a land area of 3.40 sq mi (8.81 km²) and all 494 inhabitants in Leasina county in the Western District, and an uninhabited land area of 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km²) in Itu‘au county in the Eastern District.[9]
3. The 2010 census listed Tafuna village with a land area of 2.28 sq mi (5.91 km²) and 7,943 inhabitants in Tualauta county in the Western District, and a land area of 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km²) and 2 inhabitants in Itu‘au county in the Eastern District.[9]
4. The 2010 census listed Malaeimi village with a land area of 1.39 sq mi (3.60 km²) and all 1,182 inhabitants in Tualauta county in the Western District, and an uninhabited land area of 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km²) in Itu‘au county in the Eastern District.[9]
5. The 2010 census listed Nu‘uuli village with a land area of 2.41 sq mi (6.24 km²) and 3,294 inhabitants in Itu‘au county in the Eastern District, and a land area of 0.56 sq mi (1.45 km²) and 661 inhabitants in Tualauta county in the Western District.[9]
6. The 2010 census listed Pagai village with a land area of 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km²) and 94 inhabitants in Sua county, and a land area of 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km²) and 24 inhabitants in Sa‘ole county, all in the Eastern District.[9]
7. The 2010 census treated Fofo as part of Lealataua. The numbers in this row are the sums of the villages of Lealataua without Fofo.[9]
8. The 2010 census treated Fofo as part of Lealataua. The numbers in this row are the sums of the villages of Fofo.[9]

References

1. 5.0102 Division of districts into counties, American Samoa Bar Association.
2. Revised Constitution of American Samoa, American Samoa Bar Association.
3. 2.0202 Districts, American Samoa Bar Association.
4. 2.0302 Districts, American Samoa Bar Association.
5. 6.0102 Definitions, American Samoa Bar Association.
6. Local Government, American Samoa Government.
7. Legislative branch of American Samoa – Fono, American Samoa Government.
8. Population, housing units, land area, and density by district and island and county for American Samoa: 2010, United States Census Bureau.
9. Population, housing units, land area, and density by place for American Samoa: 2010, United States Census Bureau.
10. States, Counties, and Statistically Equivalent Entities, United States Census Bureau.
11. American Samoa ZIP Codes, Zip-codes.com.
12. Unlocking the Secrets of Swains Island, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, September 2013.
13. 116th Congress of the United States, American Samoa, U.S. Census Bureau.
14. https://radewagen.house.gov/about/our-district Radewagen.house.gov. Our District. American Samoa - A Territory of the United States. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
15. https://www.nps.gov/npsa/learn/historyculture/people.htm U.S. National Park Service. National Park of American Samoa. History & Culture - People. Retrieved September 7, 2019.