American Samoa

**American Samoa**  (; , ; also **' or **') is a territory of the United States.  It is part of the Samoan Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean.

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.

## Citizenship

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.

### Court cases

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.

## References

**Notes**

## Other websites

- Government of American Samoa
- NOAA's National Weather Service - American Samoa

## Infobox (dependency)

- **name**: American Samoa
- **settlement type**: Territories of the United States, Unincorporated and unorganized territory
- **image flag**: Flag of American Samoa.svg
- **flag size**: 125px
- **flag link**: Flag of American Samoa
- **image seal**: Coat of Arms of American Samoa.svg
- **seal size**: 85px
- **seal type**: Seal
- **seal link**: Seal of American Samoa
- **motto link**: List of U.S. state and territory mottos
- **motto**: ()
- **anthem link**: List of U.S. state songs
- **anthem**: "Amerika Samoa"
- **image map**: American Samoa on the globe (Polynesia centered).svg
- **map alt**: Location of American Samoa
- **map caption**: Location of American Samoa (circled in red)
- **mapsize**: 290px
- **subdivision type**: Sovereign state
- **established title**: Tripartite Convention, Partition of Samoa
- **established date**: December 2, 1899
- **established title2**: Ratification Act of 1929, Ratification Act
- **established date2**: February 20, 1929
- **demonym**: American Samoan
- **capital**: Pago Pago
- **admin center**: Fagatogo
- **admin center type**: Government seat
- **largest settlement type**: village
- **largest settlement**: Tafuna, American Samoa, Tāfuna
- **government type**: Devolution, Devolved Presidential system, presidential constitutional Dependent territory, dependency
- **leader title1**: List of governors of American Samoa, Governor
- **leader name1**: Pula Nikolao Pula (Republican Party (United States), R)
- **leader title2**: Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa, Lt. Governor
- **leader name2**: Pulu Ae Ae (Republican Party (United States), R)
- **legislature**: _American Samoa Fono, Fono_
- **upper house**: American Samoa Senate, Senate
- **lower house**: American Samoa House of Representatives, House of Representatives
- **religion**: 98.3% Christians, Christian1.7% other
- **area sq mi**: 77
- **elevation max m**: 970
- **elevation max ft**: 3,170
- **population census**: 49,710
- **population census year**: 2020
- **population estimate**: 44,620
- **population estimate year**: 2023
- **population estimate rank**: 211th
- **population density sq mi**: 670.8
- **gdp ppp**: $709 million
- **gdp ppp year**: 2021
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $15,743
- **currency**: United States dollar (US$)
- **currency code**: USD
- **timezone**: Samoa Time Zone, SST
- **utc offset**: −11:00
- **date format**: mm/dd/yyyy
- **drives on**: right
- **calling code**: North American Numbering Plan, +1-Area code 684, 684
- **postal code**: AS
- **cctld**: .as