This section presents statistics on growth, geographic distribution and general characteristics of the local population.

The American Samoa 2000 census recorded a total population of 57,291.  This represents an increase of 10,518 persons, 22 percent since the last count of 46,773 in 1990.  The 2000 census reflects a much lower annual growth rate of 2.0 percent compared to the 3.7 percent between 1980 and 1990.

The American Samoa population is very young. The median age remained at about 21 years; demanding much needed services for early childhood education, health and medical, family advocacy, and employment opportunities.  The gender ratio recorded at 104 males for every 100 females.

The population of American Samoa is unevenly spread throughout the three district subdivisions.  In the past two decades the population has shifted from East to West.  Western District (Tafuna to Fagamalo) had 32,435 people, while Eastern District (Nu’uuli to Onenoa) had 23,441 people.  Manu’a District and Swains Island combined had only 1,415 people.

The average population density for the territory was 286 persons per square kilometer: though not evenly distributed also.  Manu’a had the lowest with 20 persons per square kilometer compared to 411 in Eastern District and 444 in the Western District.

Mid-year population estimates are calculated using the Balancing Equation Method.  For 2004, the resident population was estimated at 64,100.  While the proportion of the American Samoa born population remained above 50 percent, the trend of foreign-born increased from less than 20 percent in 1960 to over 40 percent in the recent census.  The majority of the foreign-born were from neighboring Samoa with over 30 percent followed by the US born with 5 percent.  The resident population remained ethnically Samoan with 90 percent and with over 20,000 not a citizen, nor a national of the United States.

List of Tables