American Samoa Country Summary
Medium-Low Risk
View full Ratings TableSanctions
Lower Concern
FATF AML Deficient List
Lower Concern
Terrorism
Lower Concern
Corruption
Lower Concern
US State ML Assessment
Medium Concern
Criminal Markets (GI Index)
Medium Concern
EU Tax Blacklist
Higher Concern
Offshore Finance Center
Lower Concern
Please note that although the below Summary will give a general outline of the AML risks associated with the jurisdiction, if you are a Regulated entity then you may need to demonstrate that your Jurisdictional AML risk assessment has included a full assessment of the risk elements that have been identified as underpinning overall Country AML risk. To satisfy these requirements, we would recommend that you use our Subscription area.
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Anti Money Laundering
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States. As such, we are including the information for the United States below:
FATF Status
The U.S.A. is not on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies
Compliance with FATF Recommendations
The latest follow-up Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in the USA was undertaken by in 2024. According to that Evaluation, the USA was deemed Compliant for 9 and Largely Compliant for 23 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains Highly Effective for 4 and Substantially Effective for 4 with regard to the 11 areas of Effectiveness of its AML/CFT Regime.
Sanctions
There are currently no international sanctions in force against American Samoa.
Criminality
Rating |
0 (bad) - 100 (good) |
|---|---|
| Transparency International Corruption Index | 65 |
| World Bank: Control of Corruption Percentile Rank | 83 |
American Samoa, as an unincorporated territory of the United States, reflects broader trends in crime and resilience within the region. The territory faces challenges from various criminal activities, including human trafficking, drug trade, and financial crimes, while also benefiting from a robust legal framework and international cooperation efforts aimed at combating organized crime.
Economy
American Samoa's economy is heavily reliant on tourism, tuna canning, and government services, with the tuna industry being particularly susceptible to economic shifts. The territory has faced ongoing economic challenges, resulting in a dependency on federal funding and remittances from abroad, alongside a high unemployment rate of approximately 23.8% as of 2010. Despite these difficulties, American Samoa presents unique investment opportunities, especially in the underdeveloped tourism sector and sustainable fisheries, bolstered by its strategic location and rich natural resources.
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