Samoa, American Samoa at a glance

Samoa, American Samoa at a glance

Key facts on the Independent State of Samoa and the U.S. territory of American Samoa:

American Samoa:

— Located about 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii and 1,600 miles northeast of New Zealand.

— Largest island is Tutuila, home to 95 percent of the territory’s 65,000 population.

— A U.S. territory since 1900.

— Used as a training and staging area for the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Controlled by the U.S. Navy until 1951.

— Territory is administered by the U.S. Department of Interior. Those born in the territory are U.S. nationals, not citizens.

— Local government is organized like the U.S. government, with a Senate, a House of Representatives and an elected governor. Represented in Congress by a nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

— American Samoa doesn’t vote in elections for U.S. president and vice president, but residents can vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections.

— Tuna canneries account for nearly 60 percent of all economic activity.

Independent State of Samoa:

— A German protectorate from 1900 until World War I.

— Administered by New Zealand until 1962, when it gained independence and formed a parliamentary democracy.

— Changed its name from Western Samoa to Independent State of Samoa in 1997.

— Population is about 179,000.

Sources: American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, American Samoa Government Official Web site, American Samoa Tourism, CIA World Factbook.