Overview
American Samoa is a self-governing, unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States located in the south Pacific Ocean, within the Polynesia subregion of Oceania. Although it is often referred to informally as a "country," its political status is that of a U.S. territory rather than an independent nation. The territory is centered on approximately 14.3°S 170.7°W and holds the distinction of being the southernmost territory under U.S. administration.
Location and Geography
American Samoa sits about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of the independent island nation of Samoa. Its neighbors across the surrounding ocean include the French territory of Wallis and Futuna to the west, across the International Date Line, the Cook Islands to the east, Tonga to the south, and Tokelau roughly 310 miles (500 km) to the north.
The territory is remarkably remote from the rest of the United States, lying some 2,200 miles (3,500 km) southwest of Hawaii. This distance underscores American Samoa's unique position as an isolated Pacific outpost of American governance.
American Samoa is also notable as one of only two U.S. territories located south of the Equator, the other being the uninhabited Jarvis Island. This places it in the Southern Hemisphere, distinguishing it geographically from most other American territories and states.
Political Status
As an unincorporated and unorganized territory, American Samoa maintains a form of local self-governance while remaining under U.S. sovereignty. This status differs from that of incorporated territories or U.S. states, giving American Samoa a distinctive relationship with the federal government that shapes its legal, economic, and administrative systems.
Regional Context
Positioned within Polynesia, American Samoa is part of a broader cultural and geographic region that includes many of its island neighbors. Its proximity to independent Samoa, just a short distance away, reflects a shared cultural and historical heritage between the two, even though they are governed separately.
- Independent Samoa: approximately 40 miles (64 km) to the northwest
- Wallis and Futuna (France): to the west, across the International Date Line
- Cook Islands: to the east
- Tonga: to the south
- Tokelau: approximately 310 miles (500 km) to the north
Significance
American Samoa's location makes it a unique point of American presence in the South Pacific, bridging U