Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Topics
Data & Maps
Surveys & Programs
Resource Library
Industries and Economies of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands
The Economic Census of Island Areas shows the diversity of industries among the U.S. islands’ economies. Some islands depend more heavily on tourism-related industries while others are more reliant on manufacturing and construction.
Key data included in the release: sales, value of shipments or revenue; employment characteristics; and geographic concentration of establishments by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
The 2022 Economic Census recently released detailed industry data on the unique economic characteristics of each U.S. territory. Data were released in June for American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and in July for the U.S. Virgin Islands – and data for Puerto Rico are scheduled to be released in December.
Conducted every five years (for years ending in ‘2’ and ‘7’), the Economic Census of Island Areas is the major source of statistics about the structure and functioning of the economies of each Island Area.
Key data included in the release: sales, value of shipments or revenue; employment characteristics; and geographic concentration of establishments by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
The Economic Census only includes businesses with paid employees.
Here are some highlights from the new data.
American Samoa
Manufacturing was the NAICS sector in American Samoa with the largest sales ($403.4 million), followed closely by Retail Trade ($393.5 million).
The biggest subsector within the Manufacturing sector was Food Manufacturing, with value of shipments amounting to $381.5 million.
Guam
The Construction sector, the third-largest employer in Guam, saw the largest increase in employment between 2017 and 2022.
Construction was also the third largest sector by sales ($1.46 billion).
Guam had 5,501 employees in the Construction sector, according to the 2017 Economic Census, and 6,774 employees in 2022, a 23.1% increase.
U.S. Virgin Islands
The Retail Trade sector in the U.S. Virgin Islands had the most employees (5,287), followed closely by Accommodation and Food Services (5,140).
By sales, Retail Trade was also the largest ($1.52 billion) but Accommodation and Food Services ($536 million) was only fifth largest in 2022.
CNMI
The Economic Census of Island Areas also produces statistics by county-equivalent geographies. These statistics highlight the significance of Saipan to the economy of the CNMI. In 2022, 1,425 of the 1,523 establishments in CNMI were in the municipality of Saipan.
More information on the unique economies of these four U.S. territories can be found on the Census Bureau website in fact sheets (Economic Census - Island Areas Snapshots) and detailed data tables (Economic Census by Island Areas).
This article was filed under:
Related Statistics
Subscribe
Our email newsletter is sent out on the day we publish a story. Get an alert directly in your inbox to read, share and blog about our newest stories.
Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.
-
PopulationNatural Disasters Are Primary Reason Island Areas Residents MovedFebruary 15, 2024The share of movers in the Island Areas who reported natural disasters was their primary reason for moving from 2015 to 2020 ranged from about 27% to over 41%.
-
Population2020 Island Areas Censuses: Computer and Internet UseOctober 20, 2022New data from the Island Areas Censuses provide an updated look at estimates of computer ownership and broadband internet subscriptions.
-
PopulationFirst 2020 Census U.S. Island Areas Data Released TodayOctober 28, 2021The first 2020 U.S. Island Areas Censuses shows that the combined population of the four U.S. Island Areas was just under 339,000 in 2020.
-
Emergency PreparednessHerramientas para poblaciones vulnerables de Puerto RicoSeptember 26, 2024Estimados de Resiliencia Comunitaria de Puerto Rico siguen mostrando alta vulnerabilidad social; nuevas herramientas podrían identificar áreas más necesitadas.
-
Emergency PreparednessTools for Vulnerable Populations in Puerto RicoSeptember 26, 2024Community Resilience Estimates for Puerto Rico continue to show high social vulnerability, and new and updated data tools may help identify areas most in need.
-
Business and EconomyEconomic Census Highlights Unique Characteristics of U.S. Island AreasSeptember 25, 2024Tourism-related industries dominate some island economies while manufacturing and construction are the leading industries on other islands.
-
Families and Living ArrangementsMajority of Household Population Lived in Coupled Households in 2020September 19, 2024About 8% of the household population (26 million people) lived in cohabiting couple households in 2020.
Page Last Revised - September 25, 2024
✕
Is this page helpful?
Yes
No
Yes
No✕
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum
255 characters maximum reached
255 characters maximum reached
✕
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?
Comments or suggestions?
