Economy of American Samoa

The economy of American Samoa is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned.[1] Economic activity is strongly linked to the United States, with which American Samoa conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna being the primary export. Transfers from the U.S. federal government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being. 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.

A StarKist tuna cannery. Tuna canning represents a major export industry in the territory

Economy of American Samoa

Currency	US dollar (USD)
Fiscal year	1 October – 30 September
Trade organizations	none
Statistics
GDP	$537 million (2007 est)
GDP rank	187th (nominal) / 190th (PPP)
GDP growth	3% (2003)
GDP per capita	$7,874 (2008)
GDP by sector	NA
Inflation (CPI)	NA
Population below poverty line	NA
Labor force	17,630 (2007)
Labor force by occupation	agriculture 34%, industry 33%, services 33% (1990)
Unemployment	23.8% (2010)
Main industries	tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
External
Exports	$445.6 million (2004)
Export goods	canned tuna 93% (2004)
Main export partners	Indonesia 70%, Australia 6.7%, Japan 6.7%, Samoa 6.7% (2002)
Imports	$308.8 million (2004)
Import goods	materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004)
Main import partners	Australia 36.6%, New Zealand 20.3%, South Korea 16.3%, Mauritius 4.9% (2002)
Public finances
Public debt	NA
Revenues	$121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants) (1997)
Expenses	$127 million (1997)
Economic aid	more than $40 million from US in financial support (1994)
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

Statistics

Employment in the canning industry in American Samoa. Employment in the industry fell following the 2009 closure of a Chicken of the Sea cannery

GDP: purchasing power parity – $537 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

GDP (official exchange rate): $462.2 million (2005)

GDP – real growth rate: 3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 139

GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity – $7,874 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 120

GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2002)

Labor Force: 17,630 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 203

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

Unemployment rate: 23.8% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 175

Population below poverty line: NA% (2002 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $155.4 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)
expenditures: $183.6 million (FY07)

Agriculture – products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity – production: 180 GWh (2006)
country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity – production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity – consumption: 167.4 GWh (2006)
country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity – exports: 0 kWh (2007)

Electricity – imports: 0 kWh (2007)

Oil – production: 0 barrels per day (0 m³/d) (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Oil – consumption: 4,053 barrels per day (644.4 m³/d) (604 m³/d), 2006
country comparison to the world: 170

Oil – exports: 0 barrels per day (0 m³/d) (2005)
country comparison to the world: 142

Oil – imports: 4,066 barrels per day (646.4 m³/d) (2005)
country comparison to the world: 166

Natural gas – production: 0 cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 208

Natural gas – consumption: 0 cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 207

Natural gas – exports: 0 cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas – imports: 0 cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas – proved reserves: 0 cu m (2006)
country comparison to the world: 205

Exports: $445.6 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 167

Exports – commodities: canned tuna 93% (2004)

Exports – partners: Indonesia 70%, Australia 6.7%, Japan 6.7%, Samoa 6.7% (2002)

Imports: $308.8 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 195

Imports – commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004)

Imports – partners: Australia 36.6%, New Zealand 20.3%, South Korea 16.3%, Mauritius 4.9% (2002)

Debt – external: $NA (2002 est.)

Economic aid – recipient: $NA; note – important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994

Currency: US dollar (USD)

Currency code: USD

Exchange rates: US dollar is used

Fiscal year: 1 October – 30 September

References

1. "Fact Sheet: Territory of American Samoa | FEMA.gov". FEMA (Press release). 30 September 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2019.

External links

• http://www.classbrain.com/art_cr/publish/american_samoa_economy.shtml