American Samoa Rate of Natural Increase

The rate of natural increase (RNI) in American Samoa, which measures the difference between birth rates and death rates, has historically been positive but relatively modest compared to some of its Pacific neighbors. As of recent estimates, American Samoa's RNI is low, reflecting both declining birth rates and a slight increase in death rates, trends common in territories with improving health care and changing social dynamics. In contrast, neighboring countries such as Samoa and Tonga generally exhibit higher RNIs, driven by higher fertility rates and younger populations. For example, Samoa’s RNI remains above 1%, while American Samoa’s RNI is closer to zero or even negative in some years, partly due to significant out-migration to the United States, which further dampens population growth. This contrasts with independent Pacific nations, where emigration also occurs but is often offset by higher natural increase, resulting in more robust population growth compared to American Samoa.

Data from US Census International Database