Photo: Peter Craig, National Park Service · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
American Samoa places highest on PM2.5 Air Pollution Exposure (top 3% worldwide) and lowest on Low-Carbon Share of Electricity Generation (bottom 18%).
Share
American Samoa in the Nations Inquiry Country Index
American Samoa appears in 70 of the statistics tracked here, but is not placed in the Country Index: the index needs a standing on three quarters of its topics, and American Samoa is measured on too few of them. Every published reading below is unaffected.
At a glance
Population
47,521
people
since 1950
Land area
199
km²
since 1961
Life expectancy
72.85
years at birth
since 1950
The newest published figure for each, the year it describes and who published it, with a line showing how it has moved.
01The country
About American Samoa
American Samoa takes in the eastern islands of the Samoan chain in the South Pacific. An unincorporated US territory, it has an elected governor and a legislature, the Fono, whose senators are chiefs chosen by Samoan custom. Tutuila is almost cut in two by the deep harbour at Pago Pago, where Rainmaker Mountain snags the clouds. The Manu‘a group rises to the east, and parts of the islands form a national park where flying foxes roost in the rainforest.
Ancestors of the Polynesians reached Samoa in the first millennium BC; Manu‘a’s paramount title, the Tui Manu‘a, was honoured across the islands. Jacob Roggeveen sighted Manu‘a in 1722, and missionaries followed in the 1830s. In 1899 the rival colonial powers split Samoa, leaving the eastern islands to Washington. Tutuila’s chiefs signed a deed of cession in 1900, Manu‘a’s in 1904. The US Navy governed until 1951, and islanders first elected their own governor in 1977.
Fa‘a Samoa, the Samoan way, orders life around the extended family and its matai, the chief who speaks for its land, most of which is held in common. Villages fall silent at dusk for sa, the evening prayer curfew, and Sunday means church and the umu, where taro and palusami bake over heated stones. Men wear the pe‘a, a tattoo from waist to knee. A tuna cannery on the harbour, federal funds and government jobs keep the territory going.
Key facts about American Samoa
- Capital
- Pago Pago
- Official languages
- English, Samoan
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- ISO code
- ASM · AS
- Domain · dialling
- .as · +1684
As Wikidata records them. Official languages are the least consistent — some countries list only a national language, others every regional one. Sources and licences.
02Country Index 2026
Where it stands, topic by topic
Strongest first. Each position is American Samoa’s place among the countries with a standing on that topic, built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things.
139thof 165
From 2 of 3 key statistics
151stof 177
From 2 of 4 key statistics
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — American Samoa holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
Each standing is built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things. Select a subject for American Samoa’s readings on it, or see every statistic held for American Samoa in the table further down this page.
03Highs and lows
Where American Samoa stands out
The two ends of its own record: every statistic on which American Samoa sits within ten places of the best or worst in the world, plus its strongest and weakest readings overall. Each is turned into a percentile — its place among every country measured — which is what lets a hunger score and a press-freedom rank be compared at all.
Where American Samoa does best5
In the top third of all countries measured. 1 is within ten places of the best in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
- 9th
Position · derived 212th of 220 · 1 = worst · 3.5 · 2023
world median 14.45 (better)
Position · derived 11th of 211 · 1.4 · 2025
world median 0.171 (better)
- Control of Corruptiontop 15%
Position · derived 29th of 211 · 1.18 · 2025
world median -0.197 (better)
Where American Samoa struggles most5
In the bottom third of all countries measured.
Position · derived 135th of 162 · 5.556 · 2024
world median 37.32 (worse) · ▲ 10 pts since 2014
Position · derived 134th of 162 · 5.556 · 2024
world median 32.06 (worse) · ▲ 11 pts since 2014
- Container Import Dwell Timebottom 21%
Position · derived 34th of 156 · 1 = worst · 6.8 · 2024
world median 4.4 (worse) · ▲ 6 pts since 2023
- Carbon Intensity of Electricitybottom 21%
Position · derived 36th of 165 · 1 = worst · 622.22 · 2024
world median 433.75 (worse) · ▲ 4 pts since 2014
- Researchers per Million Inhabitantsbottom 23%
Position · derived 112th of 145 · 105.76 · 2024
world median 701.95 (worse)
A band is a place among the countries each publisher scores, so American Samoa can move because other countries moved. See the Country Index for the full method.
04In context
American Samoa and its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place in the world ranking, not within the region.
Shares a land border with
American Samoa has no land border with another country.
Across Polynesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its position in the world.
- 89
Samoa - =97
Tonga - —
American Samoanot placed - —
Cook Islandsnot placed - —
French Polynesianot placed - —
Niuenot placed - —
Tuvalunot placed
05The evidence
Every statistic we hold for American Samoa
Grouped by topic. Each row gives the newest edition’s rank or position, the published value and the year the numbers describe. Select a statistic for this country’s row beside every other country, the world median and every edition.
Governance & Institutions4
- Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5)29th of 211position · derived1.182025
- Government EffectivenessWorld Bank Group · Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)47th of 209position · derived0.8692025
- Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)67th of 209position · derived0.3742025
- Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)25th of 211position · derived1.3482025
Economy & Innovation6
- Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman)top 35%0.3892025
- Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)125th of 175rank26.332026
- Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent)112th of 145position · derived105.762024
- Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting)bottom 8%182025
- Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100)top 1%217.752025
- Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · Natural resources rents (% of GDP)180th of 180position · derived02021
Education & Knowledge2
- Adult Literacy RateUIS · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%)55th of 172position · derived97.342024
- Youth Literacy RateUIS · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%)bottom 46%97.652024
Health & Wellbeing6
- Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–1995th of 222position · derived · 1 = worst34.182023
- Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates74th of 222position · derived · 1 = worst167.262023
- Days Above 35°CECMWF · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s landtop 16%02025
- Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates129th of 222position · derived15.462023
- Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates130th of 222position · derived72.852023
- PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³)212th of 220position · derived · 1 = worst3.52023
Environment & Sustainability21
- Agricultural EmissionsFAO · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq)178th of 193position · derived31.662023
- Agricultural LandFAO · Agricultural land (% of land area)166th of 209position · derived14.82023
- Annual Forest Area Change RateFAO · Compound annual change in forest area over the interval ending that year (%)top 49%02025
- Arable Land per PersonFAO · Arable land (hectares per person)170th of 206position · derived0.0222023
- Burned AreaGWIS · Burned area (hectares)bottom 12%02025
- Carbon Intensity of ElectricityEmber · Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)36th of 165position · derived · 1 = worst622.222024
- Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Coal (% of electricity generated)top 32%02024
- Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight)bottom 14%1,5272024
- Forest AreaFAO · Forest area (% of land area)8th of 210position · derived85.22023
- Forest Area within Legally Established Protected AreasFAO · Forest within legally established protected areas, as a share of the country's 2015 forest area (%)bottom 46%16.032025
- Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated)135th of 162position · derived5.5562024
- Mangrove AreaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy) · Mangrove forest area (hectares)bottom 12%33.472025
- Methane EmissionsEDGAR · Methane emissions (gigagrams of CH₄)bottom 3%0.2772025
- Municipal Solid Waste GenerationWorld Bank Group · Municipal solid waste generated (kg per person per day)104th of 201position · derived · 1 = worst0.942026
- Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts)bottom 17%02026
- Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · Population living below 5 m elevation (% of total population)top 38%4.6272015
- Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Renewables (% of electricity generated)134th of 162position · derived5.5562024
- Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts)bottom 19%0.0072024
- Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Solar (% of electricity generated)top 37%5.5562024
- Temperature Change on LandFAO · Change in mean land-surface temperature against the country's own 1951–1980 average, °Cbottom 12%1.0042025
- Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated)top 49%5.5562024
Gender & Equality2
- Mean Age at First Marriage, WomenUN DESA Population Division · Singulate mean age at marriage, women (years)top 41%25.72019
- Sex Ratio at BirthUN DESA Population Division · Male births per 100 female birthstop 27%1062023
Peace & Security1
- Political Stability and Absence of ViolenceWorld Bank Group · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)11th of 211position · derived1.42025
Mobility & Trade5
- Container Import Dwell TimeWorld Bank Group · Median days a full import container waits in port34th of 156position · derived · 1 = worst6.82024
- EmigrantsUN DESA Population Division · Migrants from the country living abroad, mid-year (people)bottom 10%3,3622024
- International MigrantsUN DESA Population Division · International migrants living in the country, mid-year (people)bottom 17%23,6842024
- Net Migration RateUN DESA Population Division · Net migrants per 1,000 populationbottom 3%-24.392023
Energy8
- Crude Oil ProductionEIA · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day)bottom 26%02025
- Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Natural gas (% of electricity generated)bottom 22%02024
- Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Hydropower (% of electricity generated)bottom 13%02024
- Natural Gas ProductionEIA · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres)bottom 27%02024
- Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation)bottom 42%02024
- Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · Nuclear (% of electricity generated)bottom 45%02024
- Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average)bottom 33%3.9832020
- Primary Energy ProductionEIA · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu)bottom 3%02024
Digital & Technology2
- GitHub DevelopersGitHub · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end)bottom 5%8302026
- GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end)bottom 2%4162026
People & Population13
- Crude Birth RateUN DESA Population Division · Births per 1,000 populationtop 47%15.392023
- Crude Death RateUN DESA Population Division · Deaths per 1,000 populationbottom 44%7.0212023
- Mean Age at ChildbearingUN DESA Population Division · Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children (years)top 41%29.382023
- Median Age of the PopulationUN DESA Population Division · Median age (years)bottom 42%28.432023
- Population Aged 65 and OverUN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 65 and over (%)bottom 45%7.552023
- Population DensityUN DESA Population Division · People per square kilometre of landtop 27%237.62023
- Population Growth RateUN DESA Population Division · Population growth (% per year)bottom 3%-1.5992023
- Population Living in Cities (Degree of Urbanisation)UN DESA Population Division · Share of the population living in cities as the Degree of Urbanisation defines them (%)bottom 8%02025
- Population Under Age 15UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)top 38%27.512023
- Sex Ratio of the Total PopulationUN DESA Population Division · Males per 100 femalestop 19%102.052023
- Total Dependency RatioUN DESA Population Division · People aged 0–14 and 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64bottom 46%53.992023
- Total Fertility RateUN DESA Population Division · Live births per womantop 39%2.2862023
06Method
Sources and how to read them
How to read this page
- The scores and ranks belong to their publishers. Nothing is adjusted, rescaled or re-ranked; each is reproduced from the edition named beside it. Where a row says position · derived, the publisher ranks nobody on that measure and the position is ours, made by ordering the published score.
- Each statistic shows its newest edition, which is not always the edition the Country Index uses: the index pins every source to one data year so its average compares like with like.
How a standing is built from percentiles, why American Samoa can move because other countries moved, and why publishers measure between 120 and 215 countries each are set out in full in how a standing is made and what a standing cannot tell you.
Sources
- Statistics: 17 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
- Capital, languages, currency, codes: Wikidata, public domain (CC0).
- Map and land borders: Natural Earth, public domain. Borders are de facto — where administration actually changes — not claimed.
Photographs
The photograph of American Samoa on this page comes from Wikimedia Commons and is shown in greyscale. The photographer and the licence are named beside each one.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). American Samoa: country statistics, rankings and trends. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/american-samoa