American Samoa: United States territory in the Pacific Ocean

It is part of the Samoan Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean.

American Samoa Amerika Sāmoa
Unincorporated and unorganized territory
Flag Seal
Motto:  "Sāmoa, Muamua Le Atua" (Samoan) (English: "Samoa, Let God Be First")
Anthem: "Amerika Samoa"
Location of American Samoa (circled in red)
Sovereign state	United States
Partition of Samoa	December 2, 1899
Ratification Act	February 20, 1929
Capital	Pago Pago
Government seat	Fagatogo
Largest village	Tāfuna
Official languages	English Samoan
Ethnic groups	88.9% Samoan 2.9% Tongan 2.7% Multiracial 2.2% Filipino 2.2% other 1.2% White
Religion	98.3% Christian 1.7% other
Demonym(s)	American (official) American Samoan (colloquial)
Government	Devolved presidential constitutional dependency
• Governor	Lemanu Peleti Mauga (D)
• Lt. Governor	Salo Ale (D)
Legislature	Fono
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Area
• Total	77 sq mi (200 km2)
Highest elevation	3,170 ft (970 m)
Population
• 2020 estimate	55,212 (208th)
• 2010 census	55,519
• Density	670.8/sq mi (259.0/km2)
GDP (PPP)	2016 estimate
• Total	$658 million
• Per capita	$11,200
Currency	United States dollar (US$) (USD)
Time zone	UTC−11:00 (SST)
Date format	mm/dd/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1-684
USPS abbreviation	AS
ISO 3166 code	AS US-AS
Internet TLD	.as

In 1899, Germany and the U.S. divided the Samoan group of islands. The U.S. got the smaller group of islands on the east side. These islands had a good harbor near the capital city, Pago Pago. The western islands were run by Germany and then by New Zealand and are now the independent country Samoa.

Officially, American Samoa is an "unorganized" territory. This means that the U.S. Congress has not passed an Organic Act. But the people who live in American Samoa rule themselves. Their constitution became effective on July 1, 1967.

The capital of American Samoa is Pago Pago, but the seat of government is Fagatogo.

Wikinews has related news:

• US Federal judge rules American Samoans are citizens, then delays implementation pending appeal

People who are born in American Samoa are called U.S. nationals, not U.S. citizens. This means they have some of the same rights as citizens but not all of them. Unlike people who are not Americans at all, American Samoans can go to any other part of the United States they want and live there for as long as they want. But they are not allowed to vote, to be on juries in court, to run for office, or to hold any job that the employee has to be a citizen to hold. For contrast, someone born in Puerto Rico or Guam is a citizen, so if they move to a state, they are allowed to vote in that state and in all federal elections.

Some American Samoans like that they are not American citizens and others do not. Some American Samoans say that being nationals and not citizens makes it easier for them to keep the fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way of life. In 2019, three American Samoans living in Utah sued the U.S. government to say they are citizens. The judge agreed with them. The judge said that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution says that anyone born in any part of the United States is a citizen, and that should mean American Samoans too. But the next day, he said they should not register to vote until after an appeal judge has seen the case.

In 2016, the United States Supreme Court decided they did not want to look at a case about whether American Samoans are citizens.