International migration, population structure and economic development in American Samoa

Abstract

International migration from small populations may have long-term cultural and social consequences. American Samoa (AS) is a small island territory whose scale (N = 55,519; 77 mi², 2010) offers a magnified view of how migration impacts a population via interconnected economies. This article examines effects of international migration on population growth, population distribution and age structure in AS. American Samoa’s population continues to increase but at a fraction of the rate predicted by natural increase; furthermore, without heavy out-migration, AS could have an unsustainable population density of nearly 1000 individuals/mi². It is argued international migration has reduced population pressure and contributed to maintenance of normally unsustainably high birth rates while also being a negative influence on internal development.

Keywords:

• kinship bridge
• remittances
• demography
• migration
• development

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Jeffrey Cohen and Anastasia Lawson for reviewing and commenting on earlier drafts of this paper.