World Factbook
American Samoa
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: a large white triangle edged in red is based on the right side and extends to the left side, and it is on a dark blue field; a bald eagle holding a Samoan war club ( fa'alaufa'i ) and a coconut-fiber fly whisk ( fue ) sits on the right side of the flag meaning: the war club and fly whisk are traditional Samoan symbols of authority; the eagle carrying two objects echoes the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa; the red, white, and blue colors are traditionally used by both countries
Capital
name
Pago Pago
note
note: pronounced PAHN-go PAHN-go
time difference
UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
14 16 S, 170 42 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
see United States note: in accordance with US Code Title 8, Section 1408, persons born in American Samoa are US nationals but not US citizens
Constitution
history
adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967
amendment process
proposed by either house of the Legislative Assembly; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by the membership of each house, approval by simple majority vote in a referendum, approval by the US Secretary of the Interior, and only by an act of the US Congress
Country name
former
Eastern Samoa
etymology
the name's meaning is disputed; according to one theory, sa means "sacred" and moa means "center," so the name can mean "Holy Center"; alternatively, some assert that the name can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology; however, the name may pre-date the Polynesian era (before 1000 B.C.), with sa'a meaning "tribe or people" and moa meaning "deep sea," or "people of the deep sea"
abbreviation
AS
conventional long form
American Samoa
conventional short form
American Samoa
Independence
none (territory of the US)
Legal system
mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
Government type
unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Judicial branch
note
note: American Samoa has no US federal courts
highest court(s)
High Court of American Samoa (consists of the chief justice, associate chief justice, and 6 Samoan associate judges and organized into trial, family, drug, and appellate divisions)
subordinate courts
district and village courts
judge selection and term of office
chief justice and associate chief justice appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior to serve for life; Samoan associate judges appointed by the governor to serve for life
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature or Fono
chief of state
President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
election results
Lemanu Peleti MAUGA elected governor in first round; percent of vote - Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (independent) 60.3%, Gaoteote Palaie TOFAU (independent) 21.9%, I'aulualo Fa'afetai TALIA (independent) 12.3%
head of government
Governor Nikolao PULA (since 3 January 2025)
most recent election date
19 November 2024
election/appointment process
president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories such as American Samoa do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
November 2028
National holiday
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Dependency status
unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
National color(s)
red, white, blue
Political parties
Democratic Party Republican Party
Legislative branch
note
note: American Samoa elects 1 member by simple majority popular vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote
National anthem(s)
title
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
history
official anthem, as a US territory
lyrics/music
Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
National symbol(s)
a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk that represents wisdom) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff that represents authority)
Administrative divisions
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 districts and 2 islands* are considered second-order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (territory of the US)
International organization participation
AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC