Share of population living in urban areas in American Samoa
American Samoa: Share of population living in urban areas was 78.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in American Samoa, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
American Samoa recorded 78.7% for share of population living in urban areas in 2020.
That represents a change of down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in American Samoa peaked at 82.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 56.1%, in 1950.
That places American Samoa 87th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas in American Samoa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 56.1% | — |
| 1955 | 57.4% | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 57.5% | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 60.7% | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 63.9% | +5.3% |
| 1975 | 65.6% | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 68.1% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 72.9% | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 77.7% | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 82.1% | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 82.7% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 82.3% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 80.9% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 80.9% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 78.7% | -2.8% |
American Samoa compared with similar countries
- American Samoa's 78.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 76.2%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- American Samoa's 78.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 70.5%, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 56.7% | 56.1% | 57.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 59.1% | 57.5% | 60.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 64.8% | 63.9% | 65.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 70.5% | 68.1% | 72.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 79.9% | 77.7% | 82.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 82.5% | 82.3% | 82.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 80.9% | 80.9% | 80.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 78.7% | 78.7% | 78.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near American Samoa
- 84 Azerbaijan 78.9% compare
- 85 Russia 78.8% compare
- 86 Seychelles 78.7% compare
- 88 Spain 78.6% compare
- 89 South Africa 78.6% compare
- 90 Belgium 78.4% compare
More reference data data for American Samoa
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0023 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0023 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0018 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0018 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0005 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0005 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas in American Samoa?
- Share of population living in urban areas in American Samoa was 78.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in American Samoa?
- The highest recorded value was 82.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in American Samoa?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.1% in 1950.
- How does American Samoa rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- American Samoa ranks 87th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in American Samoa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this American Samoa data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.