Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in American Samoa instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 5.9 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In American Samoa, that number is 75 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.7 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in American Samoa, the GDP per capita is $11,200 as of 2016.

be 11.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In American Samoa, that number is 29.8% as of 2005.

Life

be 70.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In American Samoa, on the other hand, 10.1 children do as of 2022.

have 44.1% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In American Samoa, there are 15.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 3.1 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In American Samoa, that number is 59% of people on average (60% in urban areas, and 45% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 25.9% more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In American Samoa, about 40.3% do as of 2021.

be 2.1 times more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In American Samoa, 100% of people do as of 2020.

Geography

see 97.7% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In American Samoa, that number is 116 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

American Samoa: At a glance

American Samoa (sometimes abbreviated AS) is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 224 sq km. Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was not reached by European explorers until the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
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How big is American Samoa compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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