Topic: Photos of Faroe Islands

Topic: Introduction
Background: The population of the Faroe Islands, a self-governing dependency of Denmark, is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted a high degree of self-Government to the Faroese, who have autonomy over most internal affairs and external trade, while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and some foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 1,393 sq km

land: 1,393 sq km

water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,117 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation: highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use: agricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 0.1% (2018 est.)

other: 97.8% (2018 est.)
Population distribution: the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people
Natural hazards: strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year
Geography - note: archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
Map description: Faroe Islands map showing the many islands that make up this part of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean.Faroe Islands map showing the many islands that make up this part of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 52,269 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Faroese (singular and plural)

adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups: Faroese 85.3% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, other Nordic 1.4%, other 4.5% (includes Filipino, Poland, Romanian) (2022 est.)

note: data represent respondents by country of birth
Languages: Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)

note:  data represent population by primary language
Religions: Christian 89.3% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 1%, none 3.8%, unspecified 6% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.69% (male 5,247/female 4,920)

15-24 years: 13.89% (male 3,708/female 3,465)

25-54 years: 37.01% (male 10,277/female 8,828)

55-64 years: 12% (male 3,199/female 2,996)

65 years and over: 17.41% (2020 est.) (male 4,352/female 4,636)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 37.2 years

male: 36.9 years

female: 37.7 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.63% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 14.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people
Urbanization: urban population: 42.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.17 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 5.99 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 6.61 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.26 years

male: 78.73 years

female: 83.97 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: 2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 8.2% of GDP (2017)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.)
Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Land use: agricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 0.1% (2018 est.)

other: 97.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 42.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 61,000 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 40,870 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 67% (2012 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Faroe Islands

local long form: none

local short form: Foroyar

etymology: the archipelago's name may derive from the Old Norse word "faer," meaning sheep
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Capital: name: Torshavn

geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 6 46 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: the meaning in Danish is Thor's harbor
Administrative divisions: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark; there are 29 first-order municipalities (kommunur, singular - kommuna) Eidhi, Eystur, Famjin, Fuglafjordhur, Fugloy, Hov, Husavik, Hvalba, Hvannasund, Klaksvik, Kunoy, Kvivik, Nes, Porkeri, Runavik, Sandur, Sjovar, Skalavik, Skopun, Skuvoy, Sorvagur, Sumba, Sunda, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagar, Vagur, Vestmanna, Vidhareidhi
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday: Olaifest (Olavsoka) (commemorates the death in battle of King OLAF II of Norway, later St. OLAF), 29 July (1030)
Constitution: history: 5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands' constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm

amendments: see entry for Denmark
Legal system: the laws of Denmark apply where applicable
Citizenship: see Denmark
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017)

head of government: Prime Minister Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN (since 16 September 2019)

cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held on 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023)

election results: Bardur A STEIGNIELSEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - NA
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
the Faroe Islands elect 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms

elections: Faroese Parliament - last held on 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023)
Faroese seats in the Danish Parliament last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held no later than June 2023)

election results: Faroese Parliament percent of vote by party - People's Party 24.5%, JF 22.1%, Union Party 20.3%, Republic 18.1%, Center Party 5.4%, Progress Party 4.6%, Self-Government Party 3.4%, other 1.4%, seats by party - People's Party 8, JF 7, Union Party 7, Republic 6, Center Party 2, Progress Party 2, Self-Government Party 1, composition - men 25, women 8; percent of women 24.2%
Faroese seats in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - JF 1, Republic 1; composition - men 2
Judicial branch: highest courts: Faroese Court or Raett (Rett - Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system

subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court
Political parties and leaders: Center Party (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA]
People's Party (Folkaflokkurin) [Jorgen NICLASEN]
Progress Party (Framsokn) [Poul MICHELSEN]
Republic (Tjodveldi) [Hogni HOYDAL] (formerly the Republican Party)
Self-Government Party (Sjalvstyri or Sjalvstyrisflokkurin) [Jogvan SKORHEIM]
Social Democratic Party (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN]
Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN]
International organization participation: Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description: white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence; white represents the clear Faroese sky, as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors

note: the blue on the flag is a lighter blue (azure) than that found on the flags of Iceland or Norway
National symbol(s): ram; national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem: name: "Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)

lyrics/music: Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG

note: adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The Faroese economy has experienced a period of significant growth since 2011, due to higher fish prices and increased salmon farming and catches in the pelagic fisheries. Fishing has been the main source of income for the Faroe Islands since the late 19th century, but dependence on fishing makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. Nominal GDP, measured in current prices, grew 5.6% in 2015 and 6.8% in 2016. GDP growth was forecast at 6.2% in 2017, slowing to 0.5% in 2018, due to lower fisheries quotas, higher oil prices and fewer farmed salmon combined with lower salmon prices. The fisheries sector accounts for about 97% of exports, and half of GDP. Unemployment is low, estimated at 2.1% in early 2018. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark, which amounts to about 11% of Faroese GDP , Faroese have a standard of living equal to that of Denmark. The Faroe Islands have bilateral free trade agreements with the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey.   For the first time in 8 years, the Faroe Islands managed to generate a public budget surplus in 2016, a trend which continued in 2017. The local government intends to use this to reduce public debt, which reached 38% of GDP in 2015. A fiscal sustainability analysis of the Faroese economy shows that a long-term tightening of fiscal policy of 5% of GDP is required for fiscal sustainability.   Increasing public infrastructure investments are likely to lead to continued growth in the short term, and the Faroese economy is becoming somewhat more diversified. Growing industries include financial services, petroleum-related businesses, shipping, maritime manufacturing services, civil aviation, IT, telecommunications, and tourism.The Faroese economy has experienced a period of significant growth since 2011, due to higher fish prices and increased salmon farming and catches in the pelagic fisheries. Fishing has been the main source of income for the Faroe Islands since the late 19th century, but dependence on fishing makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. Nominal GDP, measured in current prices, grew 5.6% in 2015 and 6.8% in 2016. GDP growth was forecast at 6.2% in 2017, slowing to 0.5% in 2018, due to lower fisheries quotas, higher oil prices and fewer farmed salmon combined with lower salmon prices. The fisheries sector accounts for about 97% of exports, and half of GDP. Unemployment is low, estimated at 2.1% in early 2018. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark, which amounts to about 11% of Faroese GDP , Faroese have a standard of living equal to that of Denmark. The Faroe Islands have bilateral free trade agreements with the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey. For the first time in 8 years, the Faroe Islands managed to generate a public budget surplus in 2016, a trend which continued in 2017. The local government intends to use this to reduce public debt, which reached 38% of GDP in 2015. A fiscal sustainability analysis of the Faroese economy shows that a long-term tightening of fiscal policy of 5% of GDP is required for fiscal sustainability. Increasing public infrastructure investments are likely to lead to continued growth in the short term, and the Faroese economy is becoming somewhat more diversified. Growing industries include financial services, petroleum-related businesses, shipping, maritime manufacturing services, civil aviation, IT, telecommunications, and tourism.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.001 billion (2014 est.)

$1.89 billion (2013 est.)

$1.608 billion (2012 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: 5.9% (2017 est.)

7.5% (2016 est.)

2.4% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $40,000 (2014 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.765 billion (2014 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.3% (2016)

-1.7% (2015)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 18% (2013 est.)

industry: 39% (2013 est.)

services: 43% (2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52% (2013)

government consumption: 29.6% (2013)

investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2013)
Agricultural products: potatoes, mutton, sheep skins, sheep offals, beef, sheep fat, cattle offals, cattle hides, cattle fat
Industries: fishing, fish processing, tourism, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2009 est.)
Labor force: 27,540 (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15%

industry: 15%

services: 70% (December 2016 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.2% (2017 est.)

3.4% (2016 est.)
Population below poverty line: 10% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 22.7 (2013 est.)

21.6 (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 835.6 million (2014 est.)

expenditures: 883.8 million (2014)

note: Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of its public funds
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.7% (of GDP) (2014 est.)
Public debt: 35% of GDP (2014 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 30.2% (of GDP) (2014 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Exports: $1.184 billion (2016 est.)

$1.019 billion (2015 est.)
Exports - partners: Russia 26.4%, UK 14.1%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 6.2%, US 4.7%, Poland 4.4%, Norway 4.1% (2017)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products (97%) (2017 est.)
Imports: $978.4 million (2016 est.)

$906.1 million (2015 est.)
Imports - partners: Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017)
Imports - commodities: goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars
Debt - external: $387.6 million (2012)

$274.5 million (2010)
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -

6.586 (2017 est.)

6.7269 (2016 est.)

6.7269 (2015 est.)

6.7236 (2014 est.)

5.6125 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - production: 307 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 285.5 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 128,300 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 54% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 4,600 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 4,555 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 15,341 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 59,213 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: good international and domestic communications; telecommunications network of high standards with excellent coverage throughout most parts of the country and at competitive prices (2020)

domestic: roughly 31 per 100 teledensity for fixed-line and nearly 121 per 100 for mobile-cellular; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed (2020)

international: country code - 298; landing points for the SHEFA-2, FARICE-1, and CANTAT-3 fiber-optic submarine cables from the Faroe Islands, to Denmark, Germany, UK and Iceland; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 1 publicly owned TV station; the Faroese telecommunications company distributes local and international channels through its digital terrestrial network; publicly owned radio station supplemented by 3 privately owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies
Internet country code: .fo
Internet users: total: 47,703 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 98% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 18,443 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (registered in Denmark)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 960 km (2017)

paved: 500 km (2017)

unpaved: 460 km (2017)

note: those islands not connected by roads (bridges or tunnels) are connected by seven different ferry links operated by the nationally owned company SSL; 28 km of tunnels
Merchant marine: total: 101

by type: container ships 6, general cargo 48, oil tanker 1, other 46 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces or conscription (2021)
Military - note: the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for territorial defense of the Faroe Islands; the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim to UNCLOS that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nmbecause anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim to UNCLOS that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm


Topic: Introduction
Background: Tunisia has been the nexus of many different colonizations including those of the Phoenicians (as early as the 12 century B.C.), the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, various Arab and Berber kingdoms, and the Ottomans. In 1818, France established a protectorate. The French recognized Tunisia as an independent state in 1956.Tunisia has been the nexus of many different colonizations including those of the Phoenicians (as early as the 12 century B.C.), the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, various Arab and Berber kingdoms, and the Ottomans. In 1818, France established a protectorate. The French recognized Tunisia as an independent state in 1956.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 163,610 sq km

land: 155,360 sq km

water: 8,250 sq km
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Topic: People and Society
Population: 11,896,972 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages: Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Berber (Tamazight); note - despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population
Religions: Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) <1%
Population growth rate: 0.69% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Tunis
Executive branch: chief of state: President Kais SAIED (elected 13 October, sworn in 23 October 2019)

head of government: Prime Minister Najla BOUDEN Romdhane (since 11 October 2021)
Legislative branch: description: note: on 25 July 2021, President SAIED suspended indefinitely the Assembly, and on 30 March 2022 he dissolved the Assembly
unicameral Assembly of the Representatives of the People or Majlis Nuwwab ash-Sha'b (Assemblee des representants du peuple) (217 seats; 199 members directly elected in Tunisian multi-seat constituencies and 18 members in multi-seat constituencies living abroad by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income North African economy; drafting reforms for foreign lenders; high unemployment, especially for youth and women; hit hard by COVID-19; high public sector wages; high public debt; protectionist austerity measures; key EU trade partnerlower middle-income North African economy; drafting reforms for foreign lenders; high unemployment, especially for youth and women; hit hard by COVID-19; high public sector wages; high public debt; protectionist austerity measures; key EU trade partner
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $114.97 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $9,700 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, tomatoes, barley, olives, watermelons, green chillies/peppers, potatoes, dates, green onions/shallots
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Exports: $19.17 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners: France 29%, Italy 17%, Germany 13% (2019)
Exports - commodities: insulated wiring, clothing and apparel, crude petroleum, olive oil, vehicle parts (2019)
Imports: $23.42 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners: France 17%, Italy 16%, Germany 8%, China 8%, Algeria 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, low-voltage protection equipment, cars, insulated wiring (2019)
Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022


Topic: Photos of American Samoa

Topic: Introduction
Background: Tutuila was settled by 1000 B.C. and the island served as a refuge for exiled chiefs and defeated warriors from the other Samoan islands. The Manu’a Islands developed its own traditional chiefdom that maintained its autonomy by controlling oceanic trade. In 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob ROGGEVEEN was the first European to sail through the Manu’a Islands, and he was followed by French explorer Louis Antoine DE BOUGAINVILLE in 1768. Whalers and missionaries arrived in American Samoa in the 1830s, but American and European traders tended to favor the port in Apia - now in independent Samoa - over the smaller and less-developed Pago Pago on Tutuila. In the mid-1800s, a dispute arose in Samoa over control of the Samoan archipelago, with different chiefs gaining support from Germany, the UK, and the US. In 1872, the high chief of Tutuila offered the US exclusive rights to Pago Pago in return for US protection, but the US rejected this offer. As fighting resumed, the US agreed to the chief’s request in 1878 and set up a coaling station at Pago Pago. In 1899, with continued disputes over succession, Germany and the US agreed to divide the Samoan islands, while the UK withdrew its claims in exchange for parts of the Solomon Islands. Local chiefs on Tutuila formally ceded their land to the US in 1900, followed by the chief of Manu’a in 1904. The territory was officially named “American Samoa” in 1911.

The US administered the territory through the Department of the Navy, and in 1918, the naval governor instituted strict quarantine rules to prevent the spread of the Spanish flu, allowing American Samoa to avoid the deadly infection that ravaged the then-New Zealand administered territory of Samoa. In 1949, there was an attempt to organize the territory, granting it formal self-government, but local chiefs helped defeat the measure in the US Congress. Administration was transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1951, and in 1967, American Samoa adopted a constitution that provides significant protections for traditional Samoan land tenure rules, language, and culture. In 1977, after four attempts, voters approved a measure to directly elect their governor. Nevertheless, American Samoa officially remains an unorganized territory and people born in American Samoa are US nationals instead of US citizens, a status many American Samoans prefer.  Tutuila was settled by 1000 B.C. and the island served as a refuge for exiled chiefs and defeated warriors from the other Samoan islands. The Manu’a Islands developed its own traditional chiefdom that maintained its autonomy by controlling oceanic trade. In 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob ROGGEVEEN was the first European to sail through the Manu’a Islands, and he was followed by French explorer Louis Antoine DE BOUGAINVILLE in 1768. Whalers and missionaries arrived in American Samoa in the 1830s, but American and European traders tended to favor the port in Apia - now in independent Samoa - over the smaller and less-developed Pago Pago on Tutuila. In the mid-1800s, a dispute arose in Samoa over control of the Samoan archipelago, with different chiefs gaining support from Germany, the UK, and the US. In 1872, the high chief of Tutuila offered the US exclusive rights to Pago Pago in return for US protection, but the US rejected this offer. As fighting resumed, the US agreed to the chief’s request in 1878 and set up a coaling station at Pago Pago. In 1899, with continued disputes over succession, Germany and the US agreed to divide the Samoan islands, while the UK withdrew its claims in exchange for parts of the Solomon Islands. Local chiefs on Tutuila formally ceded their land to the US in 1900, followed by the chief of Manu’a in 1904. The territory was officially named “American Samoa” in 1911.

The US administered the territory through the Department of the Navy, and in 1918, the naval governor instituted strict quarantine rules to prevent the spread of the Spanish flu, allowing American Samoa to avoid the deadly infection that ravaged the then-New Zealand administered territory of Samoa. In 1949, there was an attempt to organize the territory, granting it formal self-government, but local chiefs helped defeat the measure in the US Congress. Administration was transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1951, and in 1967, American Samoa adopted a constitution that provides significant protections for traditional Samoan land tenure rules, language, and culture. In 1977, after four attempts, voters approved a measure to directly elect their governor. Nevertheless, American Samoa officially remains an unorganized territory and people born in American Samoa are US nationals instead of US citizens, a status many American Samoans prefer. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 224 sq km

land: 224 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes Rose Atoll and Swains Island
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Atoll, Swains Island)
Elevation: highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: pumice, pumicite
Land use: agricultural land: 24.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 15% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 9.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 75.5% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Natural hazards: cyclones common from December to Marchvolcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th centurycyclones common from December to Marchvolcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century
Geography - note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean
Map description: Map of American Samoa showing the islands that together comprise this US territory and its relative location in the South Pacific Ocean; an inset provides detail of the major island of Tutuila with the capital Pago Pago.Map of American Samoa showing the islands that together comprise this US territory and its relative location in the South Pacific Ocean; an inset provides detail of the major island of Tutuila with the capital Pago Pago.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 45,443 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)

adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups: Pacific Islander 92.6% (includes Samoan 88.9%, Tongan 2.9%, other .8%), Asian 3.6% (includes Filipino 2.2%, other 1.4%), mixed 2.7%, other 1.2% (2010 est.)

note: data represent population by ethnic origin or race
Languages: Samoan 88.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 3.9%, Tongan 2.7%, other Pacific islander 3%, other 1.8% (2010 est.)

note: most people are bilingual
Religions: Christian 98.3%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27.76% (male 7,063/female 6,662)

15-24 years: 18.16% (male 4,521/female 4,458)

25-54 years: 37.49% (male 9,164/female 9,370)

55-64 years: 9.69% (male 2,341/female 2,447)

65 years and over: 6.9% (2020 est.) (male 1,580/female 1,831)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 27.2 years

male: 26.7 years

female: 27.7 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.92% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 16.7 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -29.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 87.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 49,000 PAGO PAGO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.06 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 12.14 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 7.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.32 years

male: 72.83 years

female: 77.97 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.8% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited supply of drinking water; pollution; waste disposal; coastal and stream alteration; soil erosion
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation
Land use: agricultural land: 24.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 15% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 9.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 75.5% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 87.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 18,989 tons (2016 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: American Samoa

conventional short form: American Samoa

former: Eastern Samoa

abbreviation: AS

etymology: the meaning of Samoa is disputed; some modern explanations are that the "sa" connotes  "sacred" and "moa" indicates "center," so the name can mean "Holy Center"; alternatively, some assertions state that it can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology; the name, however, may go back to Proto-Polynesian (PPn) times (before 1000 B.C.); a plausible PPn reconstruction has the first syllable as "sa'a" meaning "tribe or people" and "moa" meaning "deep sea or ocean" to convey the meaning "people of the deep sea"
Government type: unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Dependency status: unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital: name: Pago Pago

geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W

time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

note: pronounced pahn-go pahn-go
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts and 2 islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution: history: adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967

amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2021
Legal system: mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)

head of government: Governor Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (since 3 January 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature or Fono

elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)

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%
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Legislature or Fono consists of:
Senate (18 seats; members indirectly selected by regional governing councils to serve 4-year terms)
House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members directly elected by simple majority vote and 1 decided by public meeting on Swains Island; members serve 2-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)
House of Representatives - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 18; composition - men 17, women 1; percent of women 5.6%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 20, women 1; percent of women 4.8%; note total Legislature percent of women 5.1%

5

note: American Samoa elects 1 member by simple majority 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; election of delegate last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2022); Amata Coleman RADEWAGEN elected delegate; Amata Coleman RADEWAGEN (Republican Party) 83.5%, Oreta CHRICHTON (Democratic Party) 14.4%, Meleagi SUITONU-CHAPMAN (Democratic Party) 2.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: 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); note - American Samoa has no US federal 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

subordinate courts: district and village courts
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Fagafaga Daniel LANGKILDE, chairman]
Republican Party [William SWORD, chairman]
International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying 2 traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a "fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut-fiber fly whisk known as a "fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the US and American Samoa
National symbol(s): a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk; representing wisdom) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff; representing authority); national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem: name: "Amerika Samoa" (American Samoa)

lyrics/music: Mariota Tiumalu TUIASOSOPO/Napoleon Andrew TUITELELEAPAGA

note: local anthem adopted 1950; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: American Samoa s a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US with which American Samoa conducts most of its commerce. Tuna fishing and processing are the backbone of the private sector with processed fish products as the primary exports. The fish processing business accounted for 15.5% of employment in 2015.   In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami devastated American Samoa and nearby Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency oversaw a relief program of nearly $25 million. Transfers from the US 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. Tourism has some potential as a source of income and jobs.American Samoa s a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US with which American Samoa conducts most of its commerce. Tuna fishing and processing are the backbone of the private sector with processed fish products as the primary exports. The fish processing business accounted for 15.5% of employment in 2015. In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami devastated American Samoa and nearby Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency oversaw a relief program of nearly $25 million. Transfers from the US 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. Tourism has some potential as a source of income and jobs.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $658 million (2016 est.)

$674.9 million (2015 est.)

$666.9 billion (2014 est.)

note: data are in 2016 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -2.5% (2016 est.)

1.2% (2015 est.)

1% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $11,200 (2016 est.)

$11,300 (2015 est.)

$11,200 (2014 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $658 million (2016 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.5% (2015 est.)

1.4% (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 27.4% (2012)

industry: 12.4% (2012)

services: 60.2% (2012)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.4% (2016 est.)

government consumption: 49.7% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 7.3% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories: 5.1% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services: 65% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services: -93.5% (2016 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Industries: tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 17,850 (2015 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA

industry: 15.5%

services: 46.4% (2015 est.)
Unemployment rate: 29.8% (2005)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 249 million (2016 est.)

expenditures: 262.5 million (2016 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Public debt: 12.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 37.8% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Exports: $428 million (2016 est.)

$427 million (2015 est.)
Exports - partners: Australia 25%, Ghana 19%, Indonesia 15.6%, Burma 10.4%, Portugal 5.1% (2017)
Exports - commodities: canned tuna
Imports: $615 million (2016 est.)

$657 million (2015 est.)
Imports - partners: Fiji 10.7%, Singapore 10.4%, NZ 10.4%, South Korea 9.3%, Samoa 8.2%, Kenya 6.4%, Australia 5.2% (2017)
Imports - commodities: raw materials for canneries, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts
Debt - external: NANA
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used

Topic: Energy
Electricity: Installed generating capacity: 47,000 kW (2020 est.)

Consumption: 151 million kWh (2019 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 12 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: Fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 2,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)

Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 2,346 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 355,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 355,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 88.796 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 10,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,250 (2009 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2009 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: good telex, telegraph, facsimile, and cellular telephone services; one of the most complete and modern telecommunications systems in the South Pacific Islands; all inhabited islands have telephone connectivity

domestic: nearly 18 per 100 fixed-line teledensity, domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station (2018)

international: country code - 1-684; landing points for the ASH, Southern Cross NEXT and Hawaiki  providing connectivity to New Zealand, Australia, American Samoa, Hawaii, California, and SAS connecting American Samoa with Samoa; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations
Internet country code: .as
Internet users: total: 17,147 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 31% (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 3 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 241 km (2016)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Pago Pago

Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens RECONSIDER TRAVEL to Laos due to COVID-19-related restrictions.  Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country.
US Embassy/Consulate: [856] 21-48-7000; US Embassy Vientiane, Ban Somvang Thai, Thadeua Road, Km 9, Hatsayfong District, Laos; CONSLAO@state.gov;

https://la.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 856
Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Currency (Code): Kips (LAK)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, C, E, F

Major Languages: Lao, French, English, various ethnic languages
Major Religions: Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%
Time Difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Elephant Village Sanctuary; Four Thousand Islands (includes Khone Pha Pheng Waterfall); Kong Lor Caves; Wat Phu;; Vientiane; Luang Prabang (former royal city); Plain of Jars
Major Sports: Soccer, sepak takraw (kick volleyball), muay lao (martial art)
Cultural Practices: It is considered very rude to touch another person's head or to touch their body with your feet.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not customary except in tourist-oriented restaurants where 10% of the bill is appreciated, but only if a service charge has not already been added. Tour guides and day-long drivers expect $10-15 (USD) per day for a gratuity. Tip hotel staff $2-3 (USD) per day for their service .Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Burundi due to COVID-19. Reconsider travel to Burundi due to crime, health, and political violence. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country.
US Embassy/Consulate: [257] 22-207-000; US Embassy in Bujumbura, B.P. 1720, Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura, Burundi; https://bi.usembassy.gov/; BujumburaC@state.gov
Telephone Code: 257
Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for all travelers. See WHO recommendations.

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17°C but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and 2 dry seasons (June to August and December to January)
Currency (Code): Burundian francs (BIF)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E

Major Languages: Kirundi, French,  Swahili, English
Major Religions: Roman Catholic 62.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Muslim 2.5%
Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Bujumbura; Kigwena Natural Reserve; Gitega; Gishora; Mount Heha; Saga Beach; Chutes De La Kerera
Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, track and field
Cultural Practices: Dress is taken seriously, and therefore jeans, t- shirts, and running shoes are considered very casual and are only acceptable for outdoor activities and on weekends.
Tipping Guidelines: A 10% tip at restaurants is customary. Porters should be tipped a few francs. Tipping taxi drivers is not expected, but if the ride was pleasant you should round up. Tipping bartenders is not common.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022


Topic: Introduction
Background: Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration. The population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable.Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration. The population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 18,274 sq km

land: 18,274 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Topic: People and Society
Population: 943,737 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indo-Fijian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 est.)
Languages: English (official), iTaukei (official), Fiji Hindi (official)
Religions: Protestant 45% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, and Anglican 0.8%), Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other 0.3%, none 0.8% (2007 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.44% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE (since 12 November 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA (since 22 September 2014)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (51 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: tourism-based Pacific island economy, susceptible to sea-level rises; new energy infrastructure investments; major foreign direct investment; COVID-19 crippled tourism sector; privatizing state-owned enterprises; military coups have destabilized labor forcetourism-based Pacific island economy, susceptible to sea-level rises; new energy infrastructure investments; major foreign direct investment; COVID-19 crippled tourism sector; privatizing state-owned enterprises; military coups have destabilized labor force
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.86 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $11,000 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, taro, poultry, vegetables, coconuts, eggs, milk, ginger, sweet potatoes
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber
Exports: $1.23 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 29%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 7%, Japan 6%, Tonga 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: water, refined petroleum, fish, raw sugar, gold (2019)
Imports: $1.97 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Singapore 18%, Australia 13%, China 13.8%, New Zealand 11%, France 11%, South Korea 8% (2017)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, wheat, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -Page last updated: Wednesday, May 11, 2022


This entry is the country's total output of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.

Topic: Afghanistan0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Albania5,638 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Algeria627,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: American Samoa0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Andorra0 bbl/day (2016)

Topic: Angola53,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Antigua and Barbuda0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Argentina669,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Armenia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Aruba0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Australia462,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Austria186,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan138,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Bahamas, The0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Bahrain274,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Bangladesh26,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Barbados0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Belarus477,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Belgium731,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Belize36 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Benin0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Bermuda0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Bhutan0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Bolivia65,960 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Botswana0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Brazil2.811 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: British Virgin Islands0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Brunei10,310 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Bulgaria144,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Burma13,330 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Burundi0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Cambodia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Cameroon39,080 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Canada2.009 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Cayman Islands0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Central African Republic0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Chad0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Chile216,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: China11.51 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Colombia303,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Comoros0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the15,760 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Cook Islands0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Costa Rica0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire69,360 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Croatia74,620 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Cuba104,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Curacao189,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Cyprus0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Czechia177,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Denmark183,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Djibouti0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Dominica0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic16,060 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Ecuador137,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Egypt547,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: El Salvador0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Eritrea0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Estonia0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Eswatini0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: European Union11.66 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Faroe Islands0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Fiji0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Finland310,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: France1.311 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: French Polynesia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Gabon16,580 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Georgia247 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Germany2.158 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Ghana2,073 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Gibraltar0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Greece655,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Greenland0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Grenada0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Guam0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Guatemala1,162 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Guinea0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Guyana0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Haiti0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Honduras0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Hong Kong0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Hungary152,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Iceland0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: India4.897 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Indonesia950,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Iran1.764 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Iraq398,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Ireland64,970 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Israel294,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Italy1.607 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Jamaica24,250 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Japan3.467 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Jordan67,240 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Kazakhstan290,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Kenya13,960 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Kiribati0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Korea, North11,270 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Korea, South3.302 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Kosovo0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Kuwait915,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan6,996 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Laos0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Latvia0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Lebanon0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Lesotho0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Liberia0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Libya89,620 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Lithuania196,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Macau0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Madagascar0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Malawi0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Malaysia528,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Maldives0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Mali0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Malta0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Marshall Islands0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Mauritania0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Mauritius0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Mexico844,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of0 bbl/day (2014)

Topic: Moldova232 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Mongolia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Montenegro0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Montserrat0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Morocco66,230 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Mozambique0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Namibia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Nauru0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Nepal0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Netherlands1.282 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: New Caledonia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: New Zealand115,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Nicaragua14,720 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Niger15,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Nigeria35,010 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Niue0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: North Macedonia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Norway371,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Oman229,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Pakistan291,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Panama0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Papua New Guinea22,170 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Paraguay0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Peru166,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Philippines215,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Poland554,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Portugal323,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Puerto Rico0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Qatar273,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Romania232,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Russia6.076 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Rwanda0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Saint Lucia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Samoa0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Saudi Arabia2.476 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Senegal17,590 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Serbia74,350 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Seychelles0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Sierra Leone0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Singapore755,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Sint Maarten0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Slovakia131,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Slovenia0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Solomon Islands0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Somalia0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: South Africa487,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: South Sudan0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Spain1.361 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Sri Lanka34,210 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Sudan94,830 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Suriname7,571 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Sweden413,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Switzerland61,550 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Syria111,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Taiwan924,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Tajikistan172 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Tanzania0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Thailand1.328 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Togo0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Tonga0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago134,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Tunisia27,770 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Turkey657,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Turkmenistan191,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Tuvalu0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Topic: Uganda0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Ukraine63,670 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: United Arab Emirates943,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom1.29 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: United States20.3 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Topic: Uruguay42,220 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan61,740 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Vanuatu0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Venezuela926,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Vietnam153,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Virgin Islands0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: West Bank0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: World88.4 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Topic: Yemen20,180 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Zambia13,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Topic: Zimbabwe0 bbl/day (2015 est.)