Population: 192,000
GDP per capita: $2,956
Capital: Apia

The Samoan economy has been substantially affected by the global recession and its economy is expected to contract in 2009, with a fall in manufacturing, exports and remittances. Tourism flows have been holding up to date, but could decline with the continuing low growth in those countries from which tourist numbers are greatest.

In its Strategy for Development of Samoa (2008 -2012), the Government of Samoa has already identified inequality of income distribution, a lack of formal employment and income-generating opportunities (especially for school leavers), concerns over access to quality education and the rapid rise in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases as the key development challenges now facing the country.