Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga at a glance

Australian & Pacific News, AP - 2 months ago

Key facts on the Independent State of Samoa, the U.S. territory of American Samoa and Tonga:

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American Samoa:

GEOGRAPHY: Located about 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii and 1,600 miles (2,575 kilometers) northeast of New Zealand. Largest island is Tutuila, home to 95 percent of the territory's 65,000 population. It is slightly larger than Washington, D.C.

HISTORY: Migrants from Southeast Asia arrived in the Samoan islands more than 2,000 years ago and from there settled the rest of Polynesia to the east. A U.S. territory since 1900 and controlled by the U.S. Navy until 1951.

GOVERNMENT: Territory is administered by the U.S. Department of Interior. Those born in the territory are U.S. nationals, but not citizens. Local government has a Senate, a House of Representatives and an elected governor. Represented by a nonvoting delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.

ECONOMY: Tourism, tuna canneries and coconut plantations represent the bulk of the country's $571.6 million GDP in 2008. Majority of the population lives below the poverty line.

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Independent State of Samoa:

GEOGRAPHY: Slightly smaller than Rhode Island, Samoa consists of two main islands — Savaii and Upolu — as well as several smaller islands and uninhabited islets. Its population is 219,998. Samoa is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of American Samoa.

HISTORY: A German protectorate from 1900 until World War I. Administered by New Zealand until 1962, when it gained independence. Changed its name from Western Samoa to Independent State of Samoa in 1997.

GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary democracy with a unicameral legislative assembly. Only chiefs may run for election to the parliament.

ECONOMY: Samoa's $537 million economy depends on development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture and fishing.

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Tonga:

GEOGRAPHY: Archipelago of 169 islands located two-thirds of the way between New Zealand and Hawaii.

HISTORY: The word Tonga means "south" in numerous Polynesian languages. Some scholars believe the inhabitants originally came from the islands now known as Samoa.

GOVERNMENT: Constitutional monarchy with unicameral legislative assembly.

ECONOMY: The country's $258 million economy remains dependent on external aid and remittances from communities overseas. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances.

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Sources: American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, American Samoa Government Official Web site, American Samoa Tourism, American Samoa Statistical Yearbook, CIA World Factbook.