Office of Advocacy 	
A Voice for Small Business

Small Business Profile: Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico,
Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa

Small businesses in the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa
contributed to the economic well-being of their individual territories. Their role and performance is presented in the Small 
Business Profiles by the Office of Advocacy, using the most recent data available.

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Number of Businesses. Employer establishments numbered 1,276 in the Northern Mariana Islands in 2002 and they generated $1.8 
billion in sales. Business locations with 1-4 employees numbered 524 establishments or 41.1 percent of all establishments. 
(Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Census).

Business Turnover. In 2002 and 2003, the number of business bankruptcies in the Northern Mariana Islands was unchanged, a 
total of 3. (Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts).

Employment. The Economic Census of 2002 indicated that the Northern Mariana Islands had 32,790 private sector workers. The 
most significant employment sectors were retail trade, services, and construction.

PUERTO RICO
Number of Businesses. The total number of employer establishments in 2003 was 49,961. Business locations with fewer than 20 
employees represented 86.1 percent of establishments in the territory.
(Sources: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employment and Training Administration; U.S. Dept. of Commerce.)

Business Turnover. In 2004, new employer businesses numbered 1,239. There were 254 bankruptcies in 2003, a decrease of 27.6 
percent from a total of 351 in the previous year. Business terminations totaled 1,432 in 2003 (Sources: U.S. Dept. of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.)

Employment. There were 723,998 private sector jobs in Puerto Rico in 2001. The top three employment sectors were other 
services, retail trade, and manufacturing. The industries that led in employment growth were retail trade and transportation 
and public utilities. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.)

GUAM
Number of Businesses. Employer establishments numbered 2,926 in Guam in 2002 and accounted for 43,104 employees. They 
generated $4.6 billion in sales during this period. Establishments with 1-4 employees made up 41.1 percent of all business 
locations. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2002 Economic Census.)

Business Turnover. There were 12 bankruptcies in 2003 a decrease of 47.8 percent from the previous year.
(Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.)

Employment. The Economic Census of 2002 indicated that Guam’s private sector accounted for 43,104 jobs. Most were in retail 
trade; accommodation and food services; and administration, support, waste management and remediation services. (Source: U.S.
Census Bureau, 2002 Economic Census.)

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Number of Businesses. Employer establishments numbered 2,615 in the U.S Virgin Islands in 2002 and they generated $3.9 
billion in sales. Business locations with 1-4 employees represented 48.9 percent of establishments in the territory.  
Women-owned businesses represented 3.0 percent or 79 businesses.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2002 Economic Census.)

Business Turnover. There were 3 bankruptcies in 2003, a decrease from 2002’s total of 8. (Source: Administrative Office of 
the U.S. Courts.)

Employment. The Economic Census of 2002 indicated that the U.S. Virgin Islands had 26,660 private sector
jobs. The largest employment sectors were retail trade, accommodation and food services, and construction.

AMERICAN SAMOA
Employment. Estimated employment was 11,618 in American Samoa and the total number of establishments
was 1,061 in 2002. Most of these jobs were in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, and
retail trade. Employer businesses represented 55.5 percent or 589 businesses. (Source: Dept. of Commerce,
Bureau of the Census, 2002 Economic Census.)

Note: Data on women- and minority-owned firms are generally not available for the territories.
To obtain more information about the Office of Advocacy’s data, research reports, and analyses on small businesses, go to: 
www.sba.gov/advo/research or call (202) 205-6530.

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