Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
total: 28,896 sq km
country comparison to the world: 144
land: 27,986 sq km
water: 910 sq km
slightly smaller than Maryland
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Popomanaseu 2,310 m
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
arable land: 0.62%
permanent crops: 2.25%
other: 97.13% (2011)
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
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
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
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
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (2009 est.)
Melanesian pidgin (in much of the country is lingua franca), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
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 1.3%, unspecified 0.1%, none 0.03% (2009 est.)
597,248 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
0-14 years: 36.8% (male 113,030/female 106,527)
15-24 years: 20% (male 61,244/female 58,027)
25-54 years: 35% (male 106,525/female 102,452)
55-64 years: 4.3% (male 12,586/female 12,930)
65 years and over: 4% (male 11,598/female 12,329) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 77.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 71.2 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6 %
potential support ratio: 16.8 (2013)
total: 21.3 years
male: 21.1 years
female: 21.6 years (2013 est.)
2.12% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
26.9 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
3.88 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
-1.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
urban population: 19% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
HONIARA (capital) 72,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
93 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 78
total: 16.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 102
male: 19.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 74.66 years
country comparison to the world: 107
male: 72.05 years
female: 77.39 years (2013 est.)
3.44 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
8.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 49
0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2005)
30% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 27
11.5% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 64
7.3% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 19
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.1%
male: 88.9%
female: 79.2%
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2007)
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
7 July 1978 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978; amended several times, last in 2010 (2012)
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
21 years of age; universal
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
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
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
Direct Development Party or DDP [Dick HA'AMORI]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions
Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM)
note: these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003
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
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
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
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
name: "God Save Our Solomon Islands"
lyrics/music: Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA
note: adopted 1978
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.
$1.858 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$983.5 million (2012 est.)
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$3,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
agriculture: 51.8%
industry: 9.2%
services: 39% (2012 est.)
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; fish; timber
fish (tuna), mining, timber
202,500 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 170
agriculture: 75%
industry: 5%
services: 20% (2000 est.)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $411.1 million
expenditures: $391.6 million (2012 est.)
41.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
2.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
11.28% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$326.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$386.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$37.73 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$-1.2 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
China 50.8%, Australia 17.5% (2012)
$446 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Singapore 27.2%, Australia 25.7%, China 7.1%, NZ 4.9%, Malaysia 4.8% (2012)
$255.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar -
82 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
76.26 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
36,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 109
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
1,728 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
1,463 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 117
203,200 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
8,060 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 203
302,100 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 175
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone density is about 50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)
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)
4,370 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 148
10,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 201
36 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 110
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m:
total: 1,390 km
country comparison to the world: 178
paved: 34 km
unpaved: 1,356 km
note: includes 920 km of private plantation roads (2011)
major seaport(s): Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi
no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (2013)
males age 16-49: 142,913 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 118,921
females age 16-49: 118,164 (2010 est.)
male: 6,483
female: 6,098 (2010 est.)
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
