Administrative divisions of American Samoa

American Samoa is administratively divided into three districts (Western, Eastern and Manuʻa) and two unorganized atolls (Swains Island and Rose Atoll). The districts are subdivided into 15 counties,^{[lower-alpha 1]} which are composed of 76 villages.^[8]

Districts and unorganized atolls of American Samoa
Western Eastern Swains Island Rose Atoll Manuʻa Pacific Ocean Tutuila Aunuʻu Ofu Olosega Taʻū
Category	County equivalent
Location	American Samoa
Number	3 districts 2 unorganized atolls
Populations	31,819 (Western District) – 0 (Rose Atoll, Swains Island)
Areas	27.99 sq mi (72.49 km2) (Western District) – 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) (Rose Atoll)
Government	Local government
Subdivisions	Counties and villages

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau counts the three districts and two unorganized atolls as five county equivalents, while treating the actual counties as minor civil divisions.^[9]

American Samoa has only one U.S. ZIP code: 96799.^[10]

Divisions

Island/Atoll	District	County	Villages[8]
Tutuila	Western	Lealataua	Fagamalo, Maloata, Fagaliʻi, Poloa, Amanave, Failolo, Agugulu, Utumea West, Seʻetaga, Nua, Afao, Asili, Amaluia
		Fofo[lower-alpha 1]	Leone, Auma, Puapua[lower-alpha 2]
		Leasina	Aasu, Aoloau, Malaeloa/Aitulagi
		Tualatai	Malaeloa/Ituau, Futiga, Taputimu, Vailoatai, Puapua[lower-alpha 2]
		Tualauta	Vaitogi, ʻIliʻili, Tafuna,[lower-alpha 3] Pavaʻiaʻi, Faleniu, Mapusagafou, Mesepa, Malaeimi, Nuʻuuli[lower-alpha 4]
	Eastern	Ituʻau	Fagasa, Nuʻuuli,[lower-alpha 4] Faganeanea, Matuʻu, Tafuna[lower-alpha 3]
		Maʻoputasi	Fatumafuti, Fagaʻlu, Utulei, Fagatogo, Pago Pago, Satala, Anua, Atuʻu, Leloaloa, Aua
		Vaifanua	Vatia, Alao, Tula, Onenoa, ʻAoa
		Sua	Saʻilele, Masausi, Masefau, Afono, Lauliʻi, Aumi, Alega, Avaio, Auto, Amaua, Utusia, Fagaʻitua, Pagai[lower-alpha 5]
		Saʻole	Pagai,[lower-alpha 5] Alofau, Amouli, Auasi, Utumea East
Aunuʻu			Aunuʻu
Ofu	Manuʻa	Ofu	Ofu
Olosega		Olosega	Olosega, Sili
Taʻū		Taʻū	Siʻufaga, Luma
		Faleasao	Faleasao
		Fitiuta	Maia, Leusoaliʻi
Swains	—	—	Taulaga, Etena (abandoned)[11]
Rose	—	—	—

Maps

Swains Island Rose Atoll Saʻole Ofu Olosega Taʻū Faleasao Fitiuta Vaifanua Sua ╱ ╲ Maʻoputasi Ituʻau Tualauta Leasina Lealataua Fofo Tualatai

Counties of American Samoa[lower-alpha 1][8]

Fagamalo Maloata Fagaliʻi Poloa ʻAmanave Failolo Agugulu Utumea West Seʻetaga Nua Afao Asili Amaluia Leone Auma Puapua Aʻasu Aoloau Malaeloa/ Aitulagi    Malaeloa/ Ituau Futiga Taputimu Vailoatai Vaitogi ʻIliʻili Tafuna Pavaʻiaʻi Faleniu Mapusagafou Mesepa Malaeimi Fagasa Nuʻuuli Faganeanea Matuʻu Fatumafuti Fagaʻalu Utulei Fagatogo Pago Pago Satala Anua Atuʻu Leloaloa Aua Vatia Alao Tula Onenoa ʻAoa Saʻilele Masausi Masefau Afono Lauliʻi Aumi Alega Avaio Auto Amaua Utusia Fagaʻitua Pagai Alofau Amouli Auasi Utumea East Aunuʻu Ofu Olosega Sili Siʻufaga Luma Faleasao Maia Leusoaliʻi

Villages of American Samoa[8]

Statistics

The numbers below are from the 2020 census.

island/atoll	population[12][13]		land area[14][15]
	number	%	sq mi	km2	%
Tutuila	48,476	97.52%	52.55	136.12	68.83%
Aunuʻu	402	0.81%	0.58	1.51	0.76%
Ofu	132	0.27%	2.82	7.31	3.70%
Olosega	147	0.30%	2.00	5.18	2.62%
Taʻū	553	1.11%	17.43	45.13	22.82%
Swains	0	0.00%	0.94	2.43	1.23%
Rose	0	0.00%	0.03	0.08	0.04%
American Samoa	49,710	100.00%	76.36	197.76	100.00%

district	population[12]		land area[14]
	number	%	sq mi	km2	%
Western	31,819	64.01%	27.99	71.50	36.66%
Eastern	17,059	34.32%	25.14	65.12	32.93%
Manuʻa	832	1.67%	22.25	57.62	29.14%

county	population[12]		land area[14]
	number	%	sq mi	km2	%
Lealataua[lower-alpha 6]	1,496	3.01%	6.96	18.03	9.12%
Fofo[lower-alpha 7]	2,797	5.63%	1.99	5.16	2.61%
Leasina	1,689	3.40%	7.22	18.71	9.46%
Tualatai	3,010	6.06%	2.59	6.71	3.39%
Tualauta	22,827	45.92%	9.22	23.88	12.08%
Ituʻau	3,431	6.90%	5.01	12.99	6.57%
Maʻoputasi	8,568	17.24%	6.61	17.11	8.65%
Vaifanua	1,487	2.99%	4.58	11.87	6.00%
Sua	2,415	4.86%	6.64	17.20	8.70%
Saʻole	1,158	2.33%	2.30	5.95	3.01%
Ofu	132	0.27%	2.82	7.31	3.70%
Olosega	147	0.30%	2.00	5.18	2.62%
Taʻū	236	0.47%	6.13	15.87	8.03%
Faleasao	104	0.21%	2.68	6.93	3.50%
Fitiuta	213	0.43%	8.62	22.33	11.29%

village	population[13]		land area[15]
	number	%	sq mi	km2	%
Fagamalo	37	0.07%	1.39	3.60	1.82%
Maloata	6	0.01%	1.20	3.10	1.57%
Fagaliʻi	163	0.33%	0.60	1.55	0.78%
Poloa	130	0.26%	0.32	0.82	0.42%
ʻAmanave	246	0.49%	0.30	0.79	0.40%
Failolo	87	0.18%	0.25	0.64	0.32%
Agugulu	42	0.08%	0.15	0.40	0.20%
Utumea West	42	0.08%	0.26	0.67	0.34%
Seʻetaga	177	0.36%	0.27	0.70	0.35%
Nua	150	0.30%	0.37	0.96	0.48%
Afao	96	0.19%	0.54	1.41	0.71%
Asili	157	0.32%	0.54	1.39	0.70%
Amaluia	163	0.33%	0.78	2.01	1.02%
Leone	1,598	3.21%	1.49	3.86	1.95%
Auma	242	0.49%	0.13	0.33	0.17%
Puapua	957	1.93%	0.37	0.97	0.49%
Aasu	425	0.85%	3.59	9.31	4.71%
Aoloau	650	1.31%	2.24	5.81	2.94%
Malaeloa/Aitulagi	614	1.24%	1.39	3.59	1.82%
Malaeloa/Ituau	424	0.85%	0.23	0.61	0.31%
Futiga	682	1.37%	1.34	3.48	1.76%
Taputimu	709	1.43%	0.61	1.58	0.80%
Vailoatai	1,195	2.40%	0.40	1.04	0.53%
Vaitogi	1,921	3.86%	1.37	3.55	1.80%
ʻIliʻili	3,073	6.18%	1.39	3.59	1.82%
Tafuna[lower-alpha 3]	7,988	16.07%	2.48	6.42	3.25%
Pavaʻiaʻi	2,112	4.25%	0.73	1.90	0.96%
Faleniu	1,953	3.93%	0.25	0.64	0.32%
Mapusagafou	1,772	3.56%	0.80	2.06	1.04%
Mesepa	415	0.83%	0.11	0.28	0.14%
Malaeimi	1,046	2.10%	1.50	3.88	1.96%
Fagasa	577	1.16%	1.68	4.36	2.21%
Nuʻuuli[lower-alpha 4]	4,991	10.04%	2.94	7.62	3.85%
Faganeanea	93	0.19%	0.53	1.36	0.69%
Matuʻu	317	0.64%	0.46	1.20	0.61%
Fatumafuti	72	0.14%	0.04	0.10	0.05%
Fagaʻalu	731	1.47%	0.51	1.33	0.67%
Utulei	479	0.96%	0.33	0.86	0.44%
Fagatogo	1,445	2.91%	0.66	1.72	0.87%
Pago Pago	3,000	6.04%	3.43	8.88	4.49%
Satala	218	0.44%	0.15	0.40	0.20%
Anua	473	0.95%	0.07	0.18	0.09%
Atuʻu	236	0.47%	0.06	0.16	0.08%
Leloaloa	365	0.73%	0.34	0.87	0.44%
Aua	1,549	3.12%	1.01	2.61	1.32%
Vatia	460	0.93%	2.50	6.46	3.27%
Alao	275	0.55%	0.53	1.36	0.69%
Tula	308	0.62%	0.50	1.31	0.66%
Onenoa	100	0.20%	0.39	1.01	0.51%
ʻAoa	344	0.69%	0.67	1.72	0.87%
Saʻilele	60	0.12%	0.53	1.37	0.69%
Masausi	134	0.27%	0.37	0.95	0.48%
Masefau	260	0.52%	1.63	4.23	2.14%
Afono	327	0.66%	1.03	2.68	1.35%
Lauliʻi	736	1.48%	0.52	1.34	0.68%
Aumi	176	0.35%	0.70	1.82	0.92%
Alega	29	0.06%	0.39	1.01	0.51%
Avaio	34	0.07%	0.28	0.72	0.36%
Auto	214	0.43%	0.33	0.86	0.43%
Amaua	68	0.14%	0.31	0.80	0.40%
Utusia	65	0.13%	0.12	0.30	0.15%
Fagaʻitua	287	0.58%	0.39	1.02	0.52%
Pagai[lower-alpha 5]	81	0.16%	0.15	0.39	0.19%
Alofau	296	0.60%	0.50	1.30	0.66%
Amouli	261	0.53%	0.66	1.71	0.86%
Auasi	88	0.18%	0.26	0.66	0.34%
Utumea East	55	0.11%	0.19	0.49	0.25%
Aunuʻu	402	0.81%	0.58	1.51	0.76%
Ofu	132	0.27%	2.82	7.31	3.70%
Olosega	138	0.28%	1.21	3.13	1.58%
Sili	9	0.02%	0.79	2.04	1.03%
Siʻufaga	110	0.22%	5.77	14.93	7.55%
Luma	126	0.25%	0.36	0.94	0.48%
Faleasao	104	0.21%	2.68	6.93	3.50%
Maia	120	0.24%	4.39	11.36	5.75%
Leusoaliʻi	93	0.19%	4.23	10.97	5.54%

Local government structure

Amata Coleman Radewagen's congressional website said the following about American Samoa's districts:^[20]

Each [district] is administered by a district governor who is appointed by the territorial governor. To be qualified as a district governor, an individual must hold a matai title within the district to which he/she is to be appointed.^[20]

The U.S. National Park Service says the following about the structure of villages in American Samoa:^[21]

In general each village is made up of a group of aiga (extended families) which include as many relatives as can be claimed. Each aiga is headed by a matai (chief) who represents the family on all matters including the village council, or fono. Matais hold title to all assets of the aigas, or families, they represent and are responsible for law enforcement and punishment of infractions occurring in their villages. The fono consists of the matais of all the aiga associated with the village. The highest chief of the matais of all the village aigas is the highest chief or the aliʻi and heads the fono. Also, each village has a pulenuʻu (somewhat like a police chief or mayor) and one or more talking chiefs, tulafale."^[21]

Notes

1. An American Samoan law of 1962 defined 14 counties.^[1] The constitution of 1967, signed by delegates from these 14 counties, established 15 counties from then on, separating Fofo from Lealataua.^[2] The election law was later revised accordingly,^[3][4][5] and the government lists 15 counties, including Fofo with its own chief,^[6] representative and senator.^[7] The law defining the counties was not revised but the constitution overrides it where inconsistent. However, the U.S. Census Bureau continues to list 14 counties, treating Fofo as part of Lealataua.^[8]
2. The part of Puapua east of Taputimu Road consists of lands that belong to Tualatai families and is part of that county. However, the U.S. Census Bureau includes all of Puapua in Lealataua County.^[8]
3. The 2020 census listed Tafuna village with a land area of 2.36 sq mi (6.11 km²) and all inhabitants in Tualauta county in the Western District, and an uninhabited land area of 0.12 sq mi (0.31 km²) in Ituʻau county in the Eastern District.^[16][17]
4. The 2020 census listed Nuʻuuli village with a land area of 2.22 sq mi (5.75 km²) and 2,444 inhabitants in Ituʻau county in the Eastern District, and a land area of 0.72 sq mi (1.86 km²) and 2,547 inhabitants in Tualauta county in the Western District.^[16][18]
5. The 2020 census listed Pagai village with a land area of 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km²) and 25 inhabitants in Sua county, and a land area of 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km²) and 56 inhabitants in Saʻole county, all in the Eastern District.^[16][19]
6. The 2020 census treated Fofo as part of Lealataua. The numbers in this row are the sums of the villages of Lealataua without Fofo.^[13][15]
7. The 2020 census treated Fofo as part of Lealataua. The numbers in this row are the sums of the villages of Fofo.^[13][15]

References

1. 5.0102 Division of districts into counties, Code Annotated, American Samoa Bar Association.
2. Revised Constitution of American Samoa, American Samoa Bar Association.
3. 2.0202 Districts, Code Annotated, American Samoa Bar Association.
4. 2.0302 Districts, Code Annotated, American Samoa Bar Association.
5. 6.0102 Definitions, Code Annotated, American Samoa Bar Association.
6. Local Government, American Samoa Government. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020.
7. American Samoa Legislature (Fono), American Samoa Government.
8. 118th Congress of the United States, American Samoa, United States Census Bureau.
9. States, Counties, and Statistically Equivalent Entities, United States Census Bureau.
10. American Samoa ZIP Codes, Zip-codes.com.
11. Unlocking the Secrets of Swains Island, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, September 2013.
12. Population of American Samoa: 2010 and 2020, United States Census Bureau.
13. 2020 census population of American Samoa: village, United States Census Bureau.
14. American Samoa County Subdivisions – TAB20 – Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau.
15. American Samoa Incorporated Places – TAB20 – Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau.
16. Total population, Decennial Census of Island Areas, United States Census Bureau.
17. Selection map, census block, Tablulation Block Report for Eastern District, American Samoa – TAB20 – Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. The part of Tafuna village in Ituʻau county is census tract 9509, block 3004.
18. Selection map, census block group, American Samoa Block Groups – TAB20 – Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. The part of Nuʻuuli village in Tualauta county is census tract 9510, block group 2.
19. Selection map, census block, Tablulation Block Report for Eastern District, American Samoa – TAB20 – Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. The part of Pagai village in Saʻole county is census tract 9502, blocks 2017 and 2018.
20. Our District, American Samoa – A Territory of the United States, Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen. Accessed October 25, 2023.
21. National Park of American Samoa, History & Culture – People, U.S. National Park Service. Accessed October 25, 2023.