The 2019 mid year population of American Samoa is 58,500, which represents another recorded loss of 1,100 to the territory’s population. According to the Statistics Division of the Department of Commerce, outmigration, increased mortality, and declining fertility rates are the cause of the drop in population.
The population estimate is derived from the balancing equation methodology…adding the natural growth, births minus deaths, and net migration of residents and immigrants to the base population every year.
Certain trends such as higher mortality, fewer birthday and continuous net outmigration of residents, resulted in an estimated decrease in the territory’s population in 2019.
DOC says fertility rates have continued to fall, while additional residents have moved off island.
Net natural growth increased at the lowest rate in two decades, with only 600 added to the count this year.
Additionally, a substantial net outflow of travelers was recorded, as the number of residents relocating to the US and other countries outpaced those that migrate to American Samoa.
Net migration is still a major challenge in the estimates.
According to DOC, given the new arrival and departure cards system implemented in 2019, data quality is relatively poor as a result of incomplete forms and non compliance.
However arrival/departure statistics reported to DOC by Immigration suggest that the territory’s population may have dropped by at least 2,300 since mid 2018,.
According to the 2019 mid year population estimates, there are 29,746 females and 28,753 males.
The 25-64 year age group numbers 13,658 , followed by the 6-13 year age group with 4,987 and the 14-18 year age group numbered 3,172. The breakdown of all age groups is contained in the graph below.
