Australia-Oceania :: Solomon Islands

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## Introduction ::Solomon Islands

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 ::Solomon Islands

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 country comparison to the world: 144 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 ::Solomon Islands

Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)
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 73.7% (Church of Melanesia 32.8%, South Seas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%), Roman Catholic 19%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)
Population:
597,248 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Age structure:
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.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 21.3 years male: 21.1 years female: 21.6 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.12% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Birth rate:
26.9 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Death rate:
3.88 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Net migration rate:
-1.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Urbanization:
urban population: 19% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
HONIARA (capital) 72,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
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.)
Maternal mortality rate:
93 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 77
Infant mortality rate:
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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.66 years country comparison to the world: 107 male: 72.05 years female: 77.39 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.44 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
34.6% (2006/07)
Health expenditures:
8.6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 51
Physicians density:
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
Hospital bed density:
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2005)
Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 94% of population rural: 65% of population total: 70% of population unimproved: urban: 6% of population rural: 35% of population total: 30% of population (2000 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 18% of population total: 31% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 82% of population total: 69% of population (2000 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) country comparison to the world: 27
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
11.5% (2007) country comparison to the world: 64
Education expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 19
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2007)

## Government ::Solomon Islands

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 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Independence:
7 July 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution:
7 July 1978
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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 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 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 ::Solomon Islands

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):
$1.922 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 $1.822 billion (2011 est.) $1.646 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.01 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 10.7% (2011 est.) 7.8% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $3,300 (2011 est.) $3,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 54.1% industry: 7.2% services: 38.6% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
202,500 (2007) country comparison to the world: 169
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75% industry: 5% services: 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $380.7 million expenditures: $326.3 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
37.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
5.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 7.4% (2011 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.3% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 13.17% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$328.5 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $254.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$386.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $353.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$41.13 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 $50.01 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; fish; timber
Industries:
fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Current account balance:
-$372.6 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 -$207.9 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$226.5 million (2010 est.)
Exports - commodities:
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners:
China 47.9%, Australia 16.6% (2012)
Imports:
$360.3 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Imports - commodities:
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 26.6%, Australia 25.1%, China 7%, NZ 4.8%, Malaysia 4.7% (2012)
Debt - external:
$255.5 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $166 million (2004)
Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - 7.3552 (2012 est.) 7.6413 (2011 est.) 8.0645 (2010 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

## Energy ::Solomon Islands

Electricity - production:
82 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - consumption:
76.26 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
14,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1,728 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Refined petroleum products - imports:
1,433 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
359,000 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

## Communications ::Solomon Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
8,400 (2011) country comparison to the world: 203
Telephones - mobile cellular:
274,900 (2011) country comparison to the world: 174
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) country comparison to the world: 148
Internet users:
10,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 201

## Transportation ::Solomon Islands

Airports:
36 (2012) country comparison to the world: 111
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 25 (2012)
Heliports:
3 (2012)
Roadways:
total: 1,360 km country comparison to the world: 177 paved: 33 km unpaved: 1,327 km note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)
Ports and terminals:
Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi

## Military ::Solomon Islands

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.)
Military expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 30

## Transnational Issues ::Solomon Islands

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

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