Spain vs. American Samoa
Introduction
Spain | American Samoa | |
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Background | Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently, Spain has emerged from a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008, posting four straight years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen, but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the Eurozone's fourth largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region. | Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was not reached by European explorers until the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year. |
Geography
Spain | American Samoa | |
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Location | Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France | Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand |
Geographic coordinates | 40 00 N, 4 00 W | 14 20 S, 170 00 W |
Map references | Europe | Oceania |
Area | total: 505,370 sq km land: 498,980 sq km water: 6,390 sq km note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera | total: 224 sq km land: 224 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island |
Area - comparative | almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon | slightly larger than Washington, DC |
Land boundaries | total: 1,952.7 km border countries (5): Andorra 63 km, France 646 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1224 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km and Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera | total: 0 km |
Coastline | 4,964 km | 116 km |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean) | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate | temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast | 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 | large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north | five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island) |
Elevation extremes | highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 660 m | highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m |
Natural resources | coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land | pumice, pumicite |
Land use | agricultural land: 54.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 24.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.1% (2018 est.) forest: 36.8% (2018 est.) other: 9.1% (2018 est.) | 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 | 38,000 sq km (2012) | 0 sq km (2012) |
Natural hazards | periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; La Palma (2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano | cyclones common from December to March volcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century |
Environment - current issues | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification | limited supply of drinking water; pollution; waste disposal; coastal and stream alteration; soil erosion |
Geography - note | strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas; Spain's Canary Islands are one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), and Cabo Verde | 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 |
Demographics
Spain | American Samoa | |
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Population | 47,260,584 (July 2021 est.) | 46,366 (July 2021 est.) |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 15.02% (male 3,861,522/female 3,650,085) 15-24 years: 9.9% (male 2,557,504/female 2,392,498) 25-54 years: 43.61% (male 11,134,006/female 10,675,873) 55-64 years: 12.99% (male 3,177,080/female 3,319,823) 65 years and over: 18.49% (male 3,970,417/female 5,276,984) (2020 est.) | 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% (male 1,580/female 1,831) (2020 est.) |
Median age | total: 43.9 years male: 42.7 years female: 45.1 years (2020 est.) | total: 27.2 years male: 26.7 years female: 27.7 years (2020 est.) |
Population growth rate | -0.03% (2021 est.) | -2.1% (2021 est.) |
Birth rate | 8.05 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 17.19 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Death rate | 9.78 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 6 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Net migration rate | 1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -32.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
Infant mortality rate | total: 3.14 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 10.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 82.21 years male: 79.22 years female: 85.39 years (2021 est.) | total population: 75.06 years male: 72.55 years female: 77.72 years (2021 est.) |
Total fertility rate | 1.51 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.28 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.4% (2020 est.) | NA |
Nationality | noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish | noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals) adjective: American Samoan |
Ethnic groups | Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth | 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 |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 150,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children | NA |
Religions | Roman Catholic 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5%, unspecified 1.7% (2021 est.) | Christian 98.3%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.7% (2010 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - deaths | <1,000 (2020) note: estimate does not include children | NA |
Languages | Castilian Spanish (official nationwide) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian)) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and in the Basque-speaking area of Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d'Aran) along with Catalan, <5,000 speakers); note - Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Basque, Calo, Catalan, Galician, and Valencian are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | 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 |
Education expenditures | 4.2% of GDP (2017) | NA |
Urbanization | urban population: 81.1% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla | urban population: 87.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: total: 99% of population unimproved: total: 1% of population (2017 est.) |
Major cities - population | 6.669 million MADRID (capital), 5.624 million Barcelona, 835,000 Valencia (2021) | 49,000 PAGO PAGO (capital) (2018) |
Government
Spain | American Samoa | |
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Country name | conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de Espana local short form: Espana etymology: derivation of the name "Espana" is uncertain, but may come from the Phoenician term "span," related to the word "spy," meaning "to forge metals," so, "i-spn-ya" would mean "place where metals are forged"; the ancient Phoenicians long exploited the Iberian Peninsula for its mineral wealth | conventional long form: American Samoa conventional short form: American 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 | parliamentary constitutional monarchy | unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; |
Capital | name: Madrid geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0) etymology: the Romans named the original settlement "Matrice" after the river that ran through it; under Arab rule it became "Majerit," meaning "source of water"; in medieval Romance dialects (Mozarabic) it became "Matrit," which over time changed to "Madrid" | 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 | 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluna (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country] note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania) | 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 | 1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain | none (territory of the US) |
National holiday | National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492); note - commemorates the arrival of COLUMBUS in the Americas | Flag Day, 17 April (1900) |
Constitution | history: previous 1812; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 amendments: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one tenth of the members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate; amended 1992, 2011 | 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 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 | civil law system with regional variations | mixed legal system of US common law and customary law |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch | chief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014); Heir Apparent Princess LEONOR, Princess of Asturias (daughter of the monarch, born 31 October 2005) head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister-equivalent) Pedro SANCHEZ Perez-Castejon (since 2 June 2018); Vice President (and Minister of the President's Office) Maria del Carmen CALVO Poyato (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes as president the leader of the party or coalition with the largest majority of seats, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; election last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held November 2023); vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president election results: percent of National Assembly vote - NA note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding | 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 General Courts or Las Cortes Generales consists of: Senate or Senado (266 seats; 208 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 58 members indirectly elected by the legislatures of the autonomous communities; members serve 4-year terms) Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; 348 members directly elected in 50 multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3% threshold needed to gain a seat, and 2 directly elected from the North African Ceuta and Melilla enclaves by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms or until the government is dissolved) elections: Senate - last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held no later than November 2023) Congress of Deputies - last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held no later than November 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSOE 113, PP 97, ERC 15, EAJ/PNV 10, C's 9, other 22; composition - men 163, women 103; percent of women 39% Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 28.7%, PP 20.8%,Vox 15.1%, Unidos Podemos 12.8%, C's 6.8%, ERC 3.6%, other 12.8%; seats by party - PSOE 120, PP 88, Vox 52, Unidos Podemos 35, C's 10, ERC 13, other 23; composition - men 184, women 166; percent of women 47.4%; note - total General Courts percent of women 43.7% | 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 - NA 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: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room, with a president and 9 judges; the Penal Room, with a president and 14 judges; the Administrative Room, with a president and 32 judges; the Social Room, with a president and 12 judges; and the Military Room, with a president and 7 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch that includes presidential appointees, lawyers, and jurists confirmed by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms subordinate courts: National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance | 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 | Asturias Forum or FAC [Carmen MORIYON] Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Andoni ORTUZAR] Canarian Coalition or CC [Ana ORAMAS] (coalition of 5 parties) Junts per Catalunia or JxCat [Carles PUIDGEMONT] Ciudadanos Party or C's [Albert RIVERA] Compromis - Communist Coalition [Joan BALDOVI] New Canary or NCa [Pedro QUEVEDOS] Unidas Podemos [Pablo IGLESIAS Turrion] (formerly Podemos IU; electoral coalition formed for May 2016 election) People's Party or PP [Pablo CASADO] Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Oriol JUNQUERAS i Vies] Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Pedro SANCHEZ] JxCat-Junts Together for Catalonia [Jordi SANCHEZ] Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Javier ESPARZA] Navarra Suma (electoral Coaltion formed by Navarrese People's Union (UPN), Ciudadanos (C's), and the Popular Partty (PP) ahead of the 2019 election) Vox or Vox [Santiago ABASCAL] | Democratic Party [Fagafaga Daniel LANGKILDE, chairman] Republican Party [William SWORD, chairman] |
International organization participation | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC |
Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Santiago CABANAS Ansorena (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 email address and website: emb.washington@maec.es http://www.exteriores.gob.es/embajadas/washington/en/pages/inicio2.aspx consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) | none (territory of the US) |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Conrad TRIBBLE (since 20 January 2021) note - also accredited to Andorra embassy: Calle de Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: 8500 Madrid Place, Washington DC 20521-8500 telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200 FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303 email address and website: askACS@state.gov https://es.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Barcelona | embassy: none (territory of the US) |
Flag description | three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe; the triband arrangement with the center stripe twice the width of the outer dates to the 18th century note: the red and yellow colors are related to those of the oldest Spanish kingdoms: Aragon, Castile, Leon, and Navarre | 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 anthem | name: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain) lyrics/music: no lyrics/unknown note: officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem is the first anthem to be officially adopted, but it has no lyrics; in the years prior to 1931 it became known as "Marcha Real" (The Royal March); it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, while the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events | 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) |
National symbol(s) | Pillars of Hercules; national colors: red, yellow | a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk; representing wisdom) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff; representing authority); national colors: red, white, blue |
Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Spain dual citizenship recognized: only with select Latin American countries residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years for persons with no ties to Spain | 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 |
Economy
Spain | American Samoa | |
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Economy - overview | After a prolonged recession that began in 2008 in the wake of the global financial crisis, Spain marked the fourth full year of positive economic growth in 2017, with economic activity surpassing its pre-crisis peak, largely because of increased private consumption. The financial crisis of 2008 broke 16 consecutive years of economic growth for Spain, leading to an economic contraction that lasted until late 2013. In that year, the government successfully shored up its struggling banking sector - heavily exposed to the collapse of Spain's real estate boom - with the help of an EU-funded restructuring and recapitalization program. Until 2014, contraction in bank lending, fiscal austerity, and high unemployment constrained domestic consumption and investment. The unemployment rate rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to more than 26% in 2013, but labor reforms prompted a modest reduction to 16.4% in 2017. High unemployment strained Spain's public finances, as spending on social benefits increased while tax revenues fell. Spain's budget deficit peaked at 11.4% of GDP in 2010, but Spain gradually reduced the deficit to about 3.3% of GDP in 2017. Public debt has increased substantially - from 60.1% of GDP in 2010 to nearly 96.7% in 2017. Strong export growth helped bring Spain's current account into surplus in 2013 for the first time since 1986 and sustain Spain's economic growth. Increasing labor productivity and an internal devaluation resulting from moderating labor costs and lower inflation have improved Spain's export competitiveness and generated foreign investor interest in the economy, restoring FDI flows. In 2017, the Spanish Government's minority status constrained its ability to implement controversial labor, pension, health care, tax, and education reforms. The European Commission expects the government to meet its 2017 budget deficit target and anticipates that expected economic growth in 2018 will help the government meet its deficit target. Spain's borrowing costs are dramatically lower since their peak in mid-2012, and increased economic activity has generated a modest level of inflation, at 2% in 2017. | 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. |
GDP (purchasing power parity) | $1,925,576,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,888,743,000,000 (2018 est.) $1,843,934,000,000 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $658 million (2016 est.) $674.9 million (2015 est.) $666.9 billion (2014 est.) note: data are in 2016 US dollars |
GDP - real growth rate | 1.95% (2019 est.) 2.43% (2018 est.) 2.97% (2017 est.) | -2.5% (2016 est.) 1.2% (2015 est.) 1% (2014 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP) | $40,903 (2019 est.) $40,360 (2018 est.) $39,575 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $11,200 (2016 est.) $11,300 (2015 est.) $11,200 (2014 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 2.6% (2017 est.) industry: 23.2% (2017 est.) services: 74.2% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 27.4% (2012) industry: 12.4% (2012) services: 60.2% (2012) |
Population below poverty line | 20.7% (2018 est.) | NA |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24% (2011) | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 0.7% (2019 est.) 1.6% (2018 est.) 1.9% (2017 est.) | -0.5% (2015 est.) 1.4% (2014 est.) |
Labor force | 19.057 million (2020 est.) | 17,850 (2015 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 4.2% industry: 24% services: 71.7% (2009) | agriculture: NA industry: 15.5% services: 46.4% (2015 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 14.13% (2019 est.) 15.25% (2018 est.) | 29.8% (2005) |
Budget | revenues: 498.1 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 539 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 249 million (2016 est.) expenditures: 262.5 million (2016 est.) |
Industries | textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment | tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts |
Industrial production growth rate | 4% (2017 est.) | NA |
Agriculture - products | barley, milk, wheat, olives, grapes, tomatoes, pork, maize, oranges, sugar beet | bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock |
Exports | $533.771 billion (2019 est.) $521.855 billion (2018 est.) $510.327 billion (2017 est.) | $428 million (2016 est.) $427 million (2015 est.) |
Exports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, clothing and apparel (2019) | canned tuna |
Exports - partners | France 15%, Germany 11%, Portugal 8%, Italy 8%, United Kingdom 7%, United States 5% (2019) | Australia 25%, Ghana 19%, Indonesia 15.6%, Burma 10.4%, Portugal 5.1% (2017) |
Imports | $463.145 billion (2019 est.) $459.742 billion (2018 est.) $441.197 billion (2017 est.) | $615 million (2016 est.) $657 million (2015 est.) |
Imports - commodities | crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019) | raw materials for canneries, food, petroleum products, machinery and parts |
Imports - partners | Germany 13%, France 11%, China 8%, Italy 7% (2019) | Fiji 10.7%, Singapore 10.4%, NZ 10.4%, South Korea 9.3%, Samoa 8.2%, Kenya 6.4%, Australia 5.2% (2017) |
Debt - external | $2,338,853,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,366,534,000,000 (2018 est.) | NA |
Exchange rates | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.7525 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) | the US dollar is used |
Fiscal year | calendar year | 1 October - 30 September |
Public debt | 98.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 99% of GDP (2016 est.) | 12.2% of GDP (2016 est.) |
GDP (official exchange rate) | $1,393,351,000,000 (2019 est.) | $658 million (2016 est.) |
Taxes and other revenues | 37.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 37.8% (of GDP) (2016 est.) |
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -3.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -2.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.) |
GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 57.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 34.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -31.4% (2017 est.) | 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.) |
Energy
Spain | American Samoa | |
---|---|---|
Electricity - production | 258.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 169 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - consumption | 239.5 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 157.2 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - exports | 14.18 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - imports | 21.85 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
Oil - production | 1,700 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
Oil - imports | 1.325 million bbl/day (2017 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - proved reserves | 150 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - proved reserves | 2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
Natural gas - production | 36.81 million cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption | 31.27 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - exports | 2.888 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - imports | 34.63 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Electricity - installed generating capacity | 105.9 million kW (2016 est.) | 43,000 kW (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from fossil fuels | 47% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 98% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from other renewable sources | 32% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - production | 1.361 million bbl/day (2017 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - consumption | 1.296 million bbl/day (2017 est.) | 2,375 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - exports | 562,400 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - imports | 464,800 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 2,346 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Telecommunications
Spain | American Samoa | |
---|---|---|
Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 19,639,778 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41.54 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 8,984 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17.92 (2019 est.) |
Internet country code | .es | .as |
Internet users | total: 42,478,990 percent of population: 86.11% (July 2018 est.) | total: 17,000 percent of population: 31.3% (July 2016 est.) |
Telecommunication systems | general assessment: well-developed and one of the largest telecom markets in Europe, with average mobile penetration for Europe; regulator has championed competition; LTE is nearly universal with shifts of service to 5G; operator joined government smart cities project; fixed-line broadband is backed by investment in fiber infrastructure; fiber broadband accounts for most of all fixed-line broadband connections; Chinese company Huawei contributes investment to the telecom sector; increased connectivity through submarine cable connection to Brazil; importer of broadcasting equipment from Europe (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line 42 per 100 and mobile-cellular 118 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 34; landing points for the MAREA, Tata TGN-Western Europe, Pencan-9, SAT-3/WASC, Canalink, Atlantis-2, Columbus -111, Estepona-Tetouan, FEA, Balalink, ORVAL and PENBAL-5 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Southeast Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries (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 | 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: 18 per 100 fixed-line teledensity, domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station (2019) 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 | a mixture of both publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations; overall, hundreds of radio stations (2019) | 3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations |
Transportation
Spain | American Samoa | |
---|---|---|
Roadways | total: 683,175 km (2011) paved: 683,175 km (includes 16,205 km of expressways) (2011) | total: 241 km (2016) |
Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia (all in Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (in the Canary Islands) container port(s) (TEUs): Algeciras (5,125,385), Barcelona (3,324,650), Valencia (5,439,827) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Mugardos, Sagunto | major seaport(s): Pago Pago |
Airports | total: 135 (2020) | total: 3 (2020) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 102 (2020) over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 23 | total: 3 (2019) over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 |
Military
Spain | American Samoa | |
---|---|---|
Military - note | Spain joined NATO in 1982, but refrained from participating in the integrated military structure until 1996 | defense is the responsibility of the US |
Transnational Issues
Spain | American Samoa | |
---|---|---|
Disputes - international | in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; after voters in the UK chose to leave the EU in a June 2016 referendum, Spain again proposed shared sovereignty of Gibraltar; UK officials rejected Spain's joint sovereignty proposal; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz | Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution |
Environment
Spain | American Samoa | |
---|---|---|
Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 20.151 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 3,393,428 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.8% (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 18,989 tons (2016 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook