Solomon Islands

Introduction Geography People and Society Government Economy Energy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Introduction

Background: The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.

Geography

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 28,896 sq km
land: 27,986 sq km
water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Popomanaseu 2,310 m
Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Land use: arable land: 0.62%
permanent crops: 2.25%
other: 97.13% (2011)
Irrigated land: NA
Total renewable water resources: 44.7 cu km (2011)
Natural hazards: typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis
volcanism: Tinakula (elev. 851 m) has frequent eruption activity, while an eruption of Savo (elev. 485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007 an undersea earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred 345 km WNW of the capital Honiara; the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of deaths and thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was especially hard hit

People and Society

Nationality: noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups: Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (2009 est.)
Languages: Melanesian pidgin (in much of the country is lingua franca), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
Religions: Protestant 73.4% (Church of Melanesia 31.9%, South Sea Evangelical 17.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.7%, United Church 10.1%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 4%, none 0.03%, unspecified 0.1% (2009 est.)
Population: 609,883 (July 2014 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36.2% (male 113,744/female 107,193)
15-24 years: 20% (male 62,656/female 59,280)
25-54 years: 35.4% (male 109,891/female 105,760)
55-64 years: 4.4% (male 13,197/female 13,359)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 11,952/female 12,851) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 76.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 70.3 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6 %
potential support ratio: 16.8 (2014 est.)
Median age: total: 21.6 years
male: 21.4 years
female: 21.8 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.07% (2014 est.)
Birth rate: 26.33 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 20.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 4.65% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population: HONIARA (capital) 68,000 (2011)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate: 93 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate: total: 16.17 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.89 years
male: 72.27 years
female: 77.64 years (2014 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 34.6% (2006/07)
Total fertility rate: 3.36 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures: 8.8% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density: 0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2005)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 93.2% of population
rural: 77.2% of population
total: 80.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 6.8% of population
rural: 22.8% of population
total: 19.5% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 81.4% of population
rural: 15% of population
total: 28.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 18.6% of population
rural: 85% of population
total: 71.2% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 30% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.5% (2007)
Education expenditures: 7.3% of GDP (2010)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.1%
male: 88.9%
female: 79.2%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2007)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.6
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2006-07 est.)

Government

Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
Government type: parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces and 1 city*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira and Ulawa, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Independence: 7 July 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution: adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978; amended several times, last in 2010 (2012)
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Gordon Darcy LILO (since 16 November 2011)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of parliament for up to five years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually elected prime minister by parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament; Gordon Darcy LILO elected on 16 November 2011
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SIDP 14, OUR 4, SIPRA 3, RDP 3, IDP 2, DDP 2, PCP 1, PFP 1, RUPP 1, SILP 1, SINP 1, independents 17
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, and ex officio members to include the High Court chief justice and its puisne judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice and puisne judges as prescribed by the National Parliament)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court president, chief justices, and puisne judges appointed by the governor-general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, chaired by the chief justice to include 5 members, mostly judicial officials and legal professionals; all judges appointed until retirement at age 60
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts; local courts; Customary Land Appeal Court
Political parties and leaders: Direct Development Party or DDP [Dick HA'AMORI]
Independent Democratic Party or IDP [Snyder RINI]
People's Alliance Party or PAP [James MEKAB]
People's Congress Party or PCP [Fred FONO]
People's Federation Party or PFP [Rudolf DORA]
Ownership, Unity, and Responsibility Party or OUR [Manasseh SOGAVARE]
Reform Democratic Party or RDP [Danny PHILIP]
Rural and Urban Political Party or RUPP [Samuel MANETOALI]
Solomon Islands Democratic Party or SIDP [Steve ABANA]
Solomon Islands Liberal Party or SILP [Derek SIKUA]
Solomon Islands National Party or SINP [Francis HILLY]
Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA [Job D. TAUSINGA]
United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders: Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM)
Malaita Eagle Force (MEF)
note: these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, EITI (candidate country), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK (since 31 March 2004)
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands; the US ambassador to Papua New Guinea, currently Ambassador Walter E. North, is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag description: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green; blue represents the ocean; green the land; and yellow sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island groups of the Solomon Islands
National anthem: name: "God Save Our Solomon Islands"
lyrics/music: Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA
note: adopted 1978

Economy

Economy - overview: The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Prior to the arrival of The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closing of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts to restore law and order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the economy rebuilds.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.958 billion (2013 est.)
$1.883 billion (2012 est.)
$1.798 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.099 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2013 est.)
4.8% (2012 est.)
10.7% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): $3,400 (2013 est.)
$3,300 (2012 est.)
$3,300 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 50%
industry: 10.6%
services: 39.4% (2013 est.)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, fruit; cattle, pigs; fish; timber
Industries: fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate: 14% (2013 est.)
Labor force: 202,500 (2007)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75%
industry: 5%
services: 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Budget: revenues: $437.3 million
expenditures: $409.9 million (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 39.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 2.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2012 est.)
2.6% (2012 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate: 11.2% (31 December 2013 est.)
11.28% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money: $335.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$326.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money: $417.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$417.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit: $41.38 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$37.73 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Current account balance: -$1.2 million (2012 est.)
-$60.6 million (2011 est.)
Exports: $493.1 million
$415.2 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities: timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners: China 50.8%, Australia 17.5% (2012)
Imports: $446 million (2012 est.)
$446 million (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners: Singapore 27.2%, Australia 25.7%, China 7.1%, NZ 4.9%, Malaysia 4.8% (2012)
Debt - external: $255.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$166 million (2004)
Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar -
7.318 (2013 est.)
7.3552 (2012 est.)
8.0645 (2010 est.)

Energy

Electricity - production: 82 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 76.26 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 36,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1,728 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,463 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 203,200 Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 8,060 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 302,100 (2012)
Telephone system: domestic: mobile-cellular telephone density is about 50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media: Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) is the sole TV broadcaster with 1 station; multi-channel pay-TV is available; SIBC operates 2 national radio stations and 2 provincial stations; 2 local commercial radio stations; Radio Australia is available via satellite feed (2009)
Internet country code: .sb
Internet hosts: 4,370 (2012)
Internet users: 10,000 (2009)

Transportation

Airports: 36 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 24 (2013)
Heliports: 3 (2013)
Roadways: total: 1,390 km
paved: 34 km
unpaved: 1,356 km
note: includes 920 km of private plantation roads (2011)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi

Military

Military branches: no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (2013)
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 142,913 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 118,921
females age 16-49: 118,164 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 6,483
female: 6,098 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: since 2003, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and security
Trafficking in persons: current situation: The Solomon Islands is a source and destination country for local and Southeast Asian men and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; women from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines are recruited for legitimate work and upon arrival are forced into prostitution; men from Indonesia and Malaysia recruited to work in the Solomon Islands' mining and logging industries may be subjected to forced labor; local children are forced into prostitution near foreign logging camps, on fishing vessels, and at hotel and other entertainment venues; some local children are also sold by their parents for marriage to foreign workers or put up for "informal adoption" and then find themselves forced into domestic servitude or forced prostitution
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - The Solomon Islands does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has formed an ad hoc Solomon Islands Trafficking-in-Persons Advisory Committee and established an informal victim assistance referral procedure for law enforcement; the government did not pass the necessary implementing regulations for anti-trafficking legislation enacted in 2012, preventing authorities from using the new law to prosecute alleged traffickers; the government continues to rely on civil society or religious organizations to provide limited services to victims; the Solomon Islands is not a party to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2013)

This country information was last updated on January 01, 1970.