2011 Edition

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.

Area

28,896 sq km 27,986 sq km 910 sq km

total

28,896 sq km

water

910 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Coastline

5,313 km

Elevation extremes

Pacific Ocean 0 m Mount Popomanaseu 2,310 m

highest point

Mount Popomanaseu 2,310 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling none of the selected 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

Geographic coordinates

8 00 S, 159 00 E

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

0.62% 2.04% 97.34% (2005)

arable land

0.62%

other

97.34% (2005)

permanent crops

2.04%

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines 12 nm 200 nm 200 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis Tinakula (elev. 851 m) has frequent eruption activity, while an eruption of Savo (elev. 485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal

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

Natural resources

fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Total renewable water resources

44.7 cu km (1987)

Age structure

37.8% (male 111,265/female 104,896) 58.3% (male 169,873/female 163,621) 3.9% (male 10,879/female 11,356) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

37.8% (male 111,265/female 104,896)

15-64 years

58.3% (male 169,873/female 163,621)

65 years and over

3.9% (male 10,879/female 11,356) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

28.03 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.5% (2007)

Death rate

3.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 94% of population rural: 65% of population total: 70% of population urban: 6% of population rural: 35% of population total: 31% of population (2000)

rural

35% of population

total

31% of population (2000)

urban

6% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)

Health expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

17.82 deaths/1,000 live births 20.29 deaths/1,000 live births 15.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

15.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

17.82 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Life expectancy at birth

74.18 years 71.6 years 76.89 years (2011 est.)

female

76.89 years (2011 est.)

total population

74.18 years

Literacy

NA

Major cities - population

HONIARA (capital) 72,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

100 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

20.9 years 20.7 years 21.1 years (2011 est.)

female

21.1 years (2011 est.)

male

20.7 years

total

20.9 years

Nationality

Solomon Islander(s) Solomon Islander

adjective

Solomon Islander

noun

Solomon Islander(s)

Net migration rate

-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.186 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

Population

571,890 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.22% (2011 est.)

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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98% of population rural: 18% of population total: 31% of population urban: 2% of population rural: 82% of population total: 69% of population (2000)

rural

82% of population

total

69% of population (2000)

urban

2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 9 years 9 years (2007)

female

9 years (2007)

male

9 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.89 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.59 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

19% of total population (2010) 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

19% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western

Capital

Honiara 9 26 S, 159 57 E UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

9 26 S, 159 57 E

name

Honiara

time difference

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

7 July 1978

Country name

none Solomon Islands none Solomon Islands British Solomon Islands

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Solomon Islands

former

British Solomon Islands

local long form

none

local short form

Solomon Islands

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Collin David BECK 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017 [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193 [1] (212) 661-8925

chancery

800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Collin David BECK

FAX

[1] (212) 661-8925

telephone

[1] (212) 599-6192, 6193

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009) Prime Minister Gordon Darcy LILO (since 16 November 2011) Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament 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

cabinet

Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy LILO (since 16 November 2011)

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

Government - note

by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical advisers, and 72 military advisers from 15 countries across the region

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

7 July 1978 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, 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

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held on 4 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014) 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

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

elections

last held on 4 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

"God Save Our Solomon Islands" Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA adopted 1978

lyrics/music

Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA

name

"God Save Our Solomon Islands"

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Political parties and leaders

Direct Development Party or DDP [Dick HA'AMORI]; 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] 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

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish

Budget

$223.2 million $198.4 million (2010 est.)

expenditures

$198.4 million (2010 est.)

revenues

$223.2 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

3.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.4% (31 December 2010 est.) 15.3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$207.9 million (2009 est.) -$207.9 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$166 million (2004)

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

72.54 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

78 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - NA (2007) 7.3447 (2006) 7.5299 (2005) 7.4847 (2004) 7.5059 (2003)

Exports

$163.4 million (2009 est.) $163.4 million (2006)

Exports - commodities

timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners

China 63.7% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

31.1% 6.9% 62% (2010 est.)

agriculture

31.1%

industry

6.9%

services

62% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,900 (2010 est.) $2,800 (2009 est.) $2,900 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.6% (2010 est.) -1.3% (2009 est.) 7.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$712 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.627 billion (2010 est.) $1.542 billion (2009 est.) $1.562 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$256 million (2006) $239.2 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Australia 29%, Singapore 21.7%, China 7.9%, NZ 6.1%, Fiji 4.3%, Papua New Guinea 4.2%, Malaysia 4.1% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish (tuna), mining, timber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2010 est.) 7.1% (2009 est.)

Labor force

202,500 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

75% 5% 20% (2000 est.)

agriculture

75%

industry

5%

services

20% (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

1,485 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$265.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) $146 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$264.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) $227.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$148.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) $111.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$161.2 million (31 December 2010 est.) $127.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

31.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Broadcast media

Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) is the sole TV broadcaster with 1 station; multi-channel pay-TV is available; SIBC, the public service broadcaster, operates 2 national radio stations and 2 provincial stations; 2 local commercial radio stations operating; Radio Australia is obtainable via satellite feed (2009)

Internet country code

.sb

Internet hosts

4,065 (2010)

Internet users

10,000 (2009)

Telephone system

NA mobile-cellular telephone density is about 5 telephones per 100 persons country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

domestic

mobile-cellular telephone density is about 5 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

8,400 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

30,000 (2010)

Airports

36 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2010)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

25 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

8

total

34

under 914 m

25 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi

Roadways

1,360 km 33 km 1,327 km includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)

total

1,360 km

unpaved

1,327 km

Manpower available for military service

142,913 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

142,913 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

118,921 118,164 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

118,164 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

118,921

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

6,483 6,098 (2010 est.)

female

6,098 (2010 est.)

male

6,483

Military branches

no regular military forces; Solomon Islands Police Force (2011)

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2006)

Disputes - international

since 2003, RAMSI, 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007) (2007)

IDPs

5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

the Solomon Islands is a destination country for local and Southeast Asian men and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; local children are subjected to sex trafficking, particularly near foreign logging camps and on foreign and local commercial fishing vessels, but also at hotels and entertainment establishments; some girls are hired under the guise of domestic labor in logging and fishing areas, but subsequently coerced into commercial sex; some Asian women from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines may have been recruited from their home countries for legitimate work and upon arrival, forced into prostitution; men from Indonesia and Malaysia are recruited to work in the Solomon Islands' logging and mining industries, and may be subsequently subjected to forced labor in industrial camps; the Solomon Islands is a destination country for child sex tourists Tier 2 Watch List - the government failed to report any efforts to investigate or prosecute any trafficking offenders, or identify or assist any trafficking victims; the government did not conduct any public awareness campaigns on trafficking (2011)

current situation

the Solomon Islands is a destination country for local and Southeast Asian men and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; local children are subjected to sex trafficking, particularly near foreign logging camps and on foreign and local commercial fishing vessels, but also at hotels and entertainment establishments; some girls are hired under the guise of domestic labor in logging and fishing areas, but subsequently coerced into commercial sex; some Asian women from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines may have been recruited from their home countries for legitimate work and upon arrival, forced into prostitution; men from Indonesia and Malaysia are recruited to work in the Solomon Islands' logging and mining industries, and may be subsequently subjected to forced labor in industrial camps; the Solomon Islands is a destination country for child sex tourists

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - the government failed to report any efforts to investigate or prosecute any trafficking offenders, or identify or assist any trafficking victims; the government did not conduct any public awareness campaigns on trafficking (2011)