1982 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1982 (Wikisource)
Introduction
NOTE
This archipelagic nation, independent since 7 July 1978, includes southern Solomon Islands, primarily Guadalcanal, Malaita, San Cristobal, Santa Isabel, Choiseul. Northern Solomon Islands constitute part of Papua New Guinea.
Geography
Coastline
about 5,313 km
Limits of territorial waters
12 nm (fishing 200 nm)
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
93.0% Melanesians, 4.0% Polynesians, 1.5% Micronesians, 0.8% Europeans, 0.3% Chinese, 0.4% others
Literacy
60%
Nationality
noun—Solomon Islander(s); adjective—Solomon Islander
Population
245,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 3.4%
Religion
almost all at least nominally Christian; Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist churches dominant
Government
Branches
executive authority in Governor General; a Legislative Assembly of 38 members
Capital
Honiara on the island of Guadalcanal
Elections
every four years, latest August 1980 Political parties and leaders: United Party, Peter Kenilorea; People's Alliance Party, Solomon Mamaloni, National Democratic Party, Bartholemew Ulufa'alu
Government leaders
Governor General Baddeley DEVESI, Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI
Legal system
a High Court plus Magistrates Courts, also a system of native courts throughout the islands
Member of
ADB, GATT (de facto), IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IMF, UN, UPU
Official name
Solomon Islands
Political subdivisions
4 administrative districts
Suffrage
universal age 21 and over
Type
independent parliamentary state within Commonwealth
Economy
Agriculture
largely dominated by coconut production with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas; self-sufficient in rice
Aid
economic commitments from Western (non-US) countries, ODA (1979), $13.3 million
Budget
(1977) $24.2 million
Electric power
12,000 kW capacity (1981); 26 million kWh produced (1981), 113 kWh per capita
Exports
$41.0 million (1977); 39% copra, 27% timber, 23% fish
GDP
$71.2 million (1977), $320 per capita
Imports
$32.5 million (1977); 12% energy fuels
Major trade partners
exports—EEC excluding UK 42%, Japan 29%; imports— Australia 34%, UK 14%, Japan 13% (1975)
Monetary conversion rate
1 Australian dollar=US$1.1532 (September 1978)
Communications
Airfields
25 total, 23 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 5 with runways 1,220-2,430 m
Civil air
no major transport aircraft
Highways
834 km total; 241 km sealed or all-weather
Inland waterways
none
Ports
5 minor
Railroad
none
Telecommunications
4 AM broadcast, no FM, and no TV stations; 1,726 telephones, no TV sets; one ground satellite station